I just put on the needle plate that has a small hole for the needle to go through (as opposed to the one that allows zigzag). How do I remind myself not to use zigzag before exchanging the plates? I am sure someone has come up with a brilliant idea.

Tape a "no zigzag" note over the control that lets you zigzag?

Good idea! :thumbup:

I have forgotten and broke a couple needles.

My first clue is when the needle breaks in half!

put a piece of paper under the presser foot when you finish sewing. tomorrow you'll have to look at the plate when you remove the paper.

Good idea! Now I just need to remember this when I have the 1/4 inch foot on. I quilt along just fine and when I go to put on the binding and want to use my fancy stitches I always forget to change the foot. My first clue usually is when the needle stops when it hits the foot. Luckily I have haven't broken any needles doing this.

My Babylock Quest Plus only lets me sew a straight stitch when the single hole needle plate is on. Won't let me select other stitches. Only downside is that it doesn't let me select varieties of a straight stitch, like with the securing stitch to start and end, so I have to add those. The Quest Workbook seems to indicate that the Quest (earlier model) had a few different straight stitch options with the straight stitch plate. I wonder how this will work on the Serenade, the updated model of the Quest Plus.

Piece of tape "no zigzag" to remind you.
My hubby had an accident with our horse trailer - he was uninjured, the horse trailer was destroyed, 2 horses were badly injured, but totally recovered after several months of me playing horse nurse (am really an OB nurse), for Vet prices with which we could have purchased new horses. LOL
My point - he now has a multicolored piece of posterboard he sets up on the dashboard of the pickup that says "HORSETRAILER" as a reminder whenever he trailers the horses. :+) Works for him.

I always just left the zigzag plate on mine -- it was the only plate I had and it worked fine and when making clothing I frequently switched from straight to zigzag on the same seam.