Thread Breaks on Karate Belts....Help!

[Mary]

I am on my first karate belt (I tested out settings, etc....on my son's karate belt and everything came out perfect, including no thread breaks), but my customer's belts are a little bit thicker and stiffer.
What should I be using for the acti-feed setting? I am using 75/11 titanium needle, #40 thread, 18pt stitch length, auto density, 2pt x,y settings in pull comp and 10pt in column width adj.
What am I doing wrong?

[integrity]

Mary, the key factors for my success with karate belts has been to use a larger needle (80/12 sharp) and set the acti-feed to manual and use a very high number, typically 25 to 28. This allows enough thread to feed, and since the letters I use are usually block, not too many long and short stitches overall, the extra feed is just right when you look at the underside for proper proportions of top thread and bobbin thread. And slow it down to about 900 to 1000, much like working with hats, and set the pressor foot at the proper height for the added thickness. I use one of the larger wooden hoops and have purchased the detachable tables to help the belt lay flat as it moves around the bobbin arm.

HTH,
Dave

[Mary]

Hi Dave,

Thank you so much for your help. I made the adjustments and it worked perfectly!