top thread breaking

Can anyone help me figure out why my top thread is breaking when I sew and possibly how to fix it?

All I'm sewing is straight strips of fabric together for a quilt I'm making, and it keeps breaking.  I've tried adjusting the tension, but it isn't helping.

This hasn't happened to me before, why now?

Any input would be so helpful, thanks!!

Have you tried re-threading everything including the bobbin? I would start there.

If it's still breaking, I would watch the spool as you are sewing. I remember when I first started sewing on my new Janome, I was using an older spool of thread. My new machine holds the thread spool horizontally instead of vertically like my old machine. Well, when I started to sew using these old spools and my new machine, the thread would actually catch on the edge of the spool and it would break.
It may be a long shot, but you may want to watch the thread come off you spool to see if there are any hang-ups.

Thanks Irene, I will go and re-thread right now!

Try changing the needle too. I find that after prolonged use, the needles tend to break/cut the thread. Good luck!

Kristin

Ok, I've tried everything I can think of, I've re-threaded everything (and even learned that I was missing a guide), I put in a brand new needle, and I'm still getting breakage.  In fact, it's happening more frequently now.

Is there any other ideas as to why this is happening?  My sewing machine manual doesn't have a troubleshooting section...

What kind of machine do you have?

Sounds crazy, but when this happens to me and I'm done trouble shooting everything, it stops breaking when I use a newer spool.  Thread grows weak with age, so if you've re-threaded the machine, watched the spool, changed the needle to make sure there is no burrs....changing the thread may be your best bet.

HTH

Dru

You might want to also try cleaning your bobbin case.  If there is lint stuck in there it could be causing it to put too much tension on the thread and causing it to break.
you might also want to rewind the bobbin to try to get it to stop.