ONe of my first quilt instructors for a class I took used blue painters tape and marked 1/4" from the needle. Taped a big line all the way down the sewing area. I still had a hard time with it. When I got a new machine, I got a great deal on quilting accessories. I got a darning foot that I use for free hand quilting, a walking foot for sewing bulky stuff or quilting in the ditch, something else I can't remember, and my most prized possession a 1/4" foot.