Hello tracey,
if you have not used your machine for years go through the basic things first, make sure the machine is threaded properly, make sure you are using a good mercerised thread, if you have put a new needle in make sure it is the correct way round, when you thread ther machine make sure you have the presser foot in the up position and the takeop lever in the up position so the thread goes through the tension discs, the top tension is usually set to 4 or 5 but you may need to adjust it a bit, providing you have gone through everything above if the thread is breaking then you probably have the top tension set too high, adjust it downwards bit by bit, any problems let me know.
Ken
drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk, July 2007