I like the little wooden skewers to use at the machine instead of a metal one. They help to get your fabrics through the machine and to straighten odd little corners too small for your fingers, or too near the needle to be safe. If you happen to hit one of the skewers with your needle no harm will be done but the metal ones can break a needle and send pieces of it flying. They are very cheap and I buy a whole bag full and they last forever.