DebbyT, thanks for your advice on this blog and on others.
I just set up my strait stitch on a long arm table and have been practicing. I have the Baby Lock Jane machine and got the stitch regulator for it, most strait stitch machines can be hooked up to one on a frame. It makes a big difference to have the stitchs all the same length.
Also bought a set of pantographs that have 4 different very simple designs on a roll. Cant wait to try them out. They are only 4 inchs wide so they will work with the 9 in throat area.
I do not like the complicated threading on the straight stitch machine but cannot afford a long arm so must make the most of it.
Now I need to watch my rows to see just how much distance I can get on a full bobbin since you cannot see how much thread is left on it. This is a big problem. So far Ive found it dosnt go very far.