lin, cathe and the others are right, i'm afraid. we have to pay attention. (not good. :cry: i'm too easily distracted by shiny objects. )
i just experimented with about 4 different feet - including an "official" quarter-inch foot. the feed dogs definitely pull the fabric off line toward the end. i'll bet it happens on all machines. i'll also bet kathy came up with the right reason why.
the foot that came the closest to keeping the fabric feeding through in a straight line without help was my rolling foot. a few of the scraps went wonky at the end, but most stayed straight to within one thread. it was also the foot that required the least help/lightest touch straightening back out when i saw it happening.
i didn't try my walking foot. too big a pain to put on and take off. i don't like using it anyway. too noisy. one of those might do a better job of keeping the fabric straight, though. (if they don't, they need to stop selling them as "even feed" feet, don'tch think? LOL)