I solved my problem with he gripper. I took it back where I bought it and since it was on backorder and I didn't want to wait for a new one (had anaother plan but didn't want to tell me) I found something else (not hard to do in a quilt shop) and then went to Walmart and purchased one. The one from Walmart has a little thicker handle which I think I like better. I looked at Walmart before and couldn't find it. I was looking in the bathroom asile. I found it where you find the bandaids and such in the pharamcy part of the store. PROBLEM SOLVED On to the next. I need to stay away from quilt shops, while there they had right at the door as you come in a quilt using the French Braid techique. A must I have to try. I'll doing a bargello now.