I recently purchased a Janome1600P DB machine. I have it on my Grace quilting frame and am in the process of quilting. However, the thread keeps breaking. I have made sure the darning foot is adjusted correctly, the thread is threaded correctly and that I have the right needle in. What else could be causing this. I free motion most of my quilts and haven't experienced this before. Help! My machine is a 1600P and I have the same problem with the thread breaking! I have tried all I can think of---rethreading, new needle, checking bobbin ,dusting, changing the tension of the thread and of the cloth holders on the Gracie Frame, checking that my quilt is not too high up from the bed of the machine, etc.The thread I am using is a 50 wt.,100%cotton made for quilting and the needle a 90/14.

Its the frame, its the open metal frame. I have two machines and have the same problem. Heavier thread, changed needles, raised and lowered. Its the frame you need to frame in like a box and it will work or turn it upside down and ask you husband to screw a large piece of plywood to the bottom to make it square and heavier. The frame will continue to float around, we even screwed it to the floor. For three years I had to go without the quilting. Machine works off stand not on.

I would try a 40 wt thread and experiment with a 16 needle. I find that for most of my quilts, 50 wt is too light for the Janome.

Have a look at my YouTube video of how to set the bobbin tension;
OK, I know it's a bit naff but it does show you how to do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ErwP6LNcI

I made this video at the request of a lady who couldn't find anything that helped her.

• Setting the bobbin tension is very important as it reduces the other variables. Once this is correct the top tension is adjusted to get the stitches locking properly within the thickness of the material being sewn. If the bottom tension is too slack you have problems from the word og.
• Having the correct (and sharp) needle is important. If the needle eye is too small and the slot machined into the needle above the eye is too narrow the machine has a job to push it all through the material, so it breaks. The HLX5 90/14 should be correct. This needle is designed for quilting frame purposes.
• Superior Threads have a brilliant trouble-shooting page
• http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/troubleshooting-problems/