I'm pretty good at sewing straight seams and not using a guide. I've been sewing for 54yrs. My Juki TL98QE has a compensating foot, it has a small part of it that stays flat on the throat plate, fabric can't go under it, at alll. My Babylock Jane doesn't have one, just the 1/4" foot, I watch the 1/4" line on throat plate as I sew, just got this machine last June. I usually sew at moderate pace.