I have the same model and have not had this problem very often unless I am trying to sew triangles. Then I have to use a leader piece or it will suck it down into the hole. I just read that one should have a small-holed face plate, but I have done OK without it. I think it would be a pain to have to change it every time I wanted to do another kind of stitch. If you have had it since 1990, maybe it needs to go to the Pfaff doc. I use the IDT whenever the foot I am using will accommodate it.