First of all....don't sew over pins!!!! that can cause a timing problem, broken needles, nightmares of all kinds........and slow down, we are not here to win any races....we are here to "unwind" and relax.............. (sewing, that is). To help with sewing straight - I have laid down a strip of doeskin(Walgreen's) to the right of where the edge of that illusive 1/4" should be...this strip goes as far down on the deck as your personal machine will let you go without interfering with any bobbin cases or whatever....seems to help too........oh, but once in a while that little "crooked genie" shows up and then I have to frog stitch........(rip-rip-rip)