Here's a trick for getting over the thicker seams. I just fold a pice of scrap fabrick until it is as thick and the seam and put it behind the presser foot to make it even with the thickness and it goes right over and will sew it. Works for me and by the way, your quilt is so pretty, I bet your swish bargello would win for sure. My machine is very similar to yours and they are so light weight and not really for heavey duty sewing, but there are ways to work around that. I quilted my lone star on mine. Huggies, Fay