American Professional Quilting Systems

1-800-426-7233 or service@apqs.com

APQS Customer Support

Why is my thread breaking?

Several different things can cause this:

Bobbin case tension may be too tight.
Upper tension could be too tight.
Improper threading—double check the thread path and ensure the thread isn’t catching on the spool, laser cord, or other obstruction.
Improper threading—double check the thread path and ensure the thread isn’t catching on the spool, laser cord, or other obstruction.
Bad thread – even if you have done 1-2 quilts or more with this thread, you can have a bad spot in the cone of thread! As earlier mentioned, dark thread tends to break more easily than light, as cotton, rayon, and other weaker fiber threads.
Burrs on the hook assembly, or somewhere else along the thread path. Try loosening tension (upper), checking and fixing burrs, or changing thread cones.
Pig tail thread guides may have notches or burrs. These can happen over time, especially when using coarse threads like metallics and invisible nylon or polyester thread. Replace the pig tails, or for a temporary fix, loosen the screws holding each one in place and rotate the pig tail 180 degrees so that a different spot on the guide is being used.
Sharp or rough needle eye. Replace the needle, and make sure you are using one that is large enough (a 4.0 is ideal) to accommodate your thread, especially if it is heavy or metallic.