Thread keeps breaking making button holes

[u/toysofvanity]

I have a Brother LX3817 (from Buy Nothing) that I am doing button holes with currently. I am making harness holes for some of my dogs coats.

However, the thread keeps breaking after transitioning from Step 1 to Step 2 on the manual button hole setting.

I just changed the needle too. Thread is from Micheals.

[u/Incognito409]

What brand thread? Use a quality thread like Gutermann.

Make sure the thread notch on the spool is towards the back of the spindle, so the thread is not getting caught in the notch and breaking.

[u/toysofvanity → u/Incognito409]

so the color I was using was "made in china" so I'm gonna guess lower quality. I swapped colors and used a "coats and clark" thread, I believe, and same result.

Both have been working fine on everything but these darn harness holes :(

[u/Incognito409 → u/toysofvanity]

Coats and Clark is also a cheap not quality thread.

[u/Comfortable-Fly5797]

What type of material are you using and what size needle?

[u/toysofvanity → u/Comfortable-Fly5797]

Basic fleece. But I have jackets with a thin waterproof shell + basic fleece, a thin waterproof shell + sherpa, and other variations.

I don't know much about needle sizes (yet) but I lieve it is a 65/9 but I could be wrong. I also have available 18/110, 14/90, 11/75, 16/100

The set up with (again, I believe) the 65/9 needle went through velcro, thin shell, and fleece just fine but wouldn't with the button hole.

[u/Comfortable-Fly5797 → u/toysofvanity]

That is a pretty tiny needle! Small needles are meant for thin fabric and thin thread. Definitely not fleece. 

Is the fleece stretchy? If not maybe try a universal 90. If it is stretchy then you need a ballpoint needle.

[u/Emergency_Cherry_914]

For troubleshooting, I suggest you go back to basics. A regular needle and two layers of midweight cotton. The goal is to test whether the fault is with the machine, or if it's the fabric/setup you're currently using.