I had trouble with thread breaking while free-motion quilting with a shiny polyester. The thread is so light that it would form loops off the spool before entering the tension slot. A whole loop of thread would enter the machine and get stuck, breaking before the thread even got to the needle.

To tame the loops, I cut a plastic drinking straw to fit between the spool and where the thread enters the machine. I put the thread through the straw.

I taped the straw securely to the machine in the path the thread normally takes. Then I threaded the machine normally. The straw prevents the thread from looping and the thread never broke again.

Thanks for the good idea. The straw may help with all kinds of thread that cause problems while sewing and quilting.

- Sharon

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