I used to sew over pins...2 machines ago. I DO put pins in my mouth. I remember my grandmother doing it...about 5 or 6 at a time. My Elna...has the same needle in it that was in when hubby bought it for me in 1999. Of course I didn't sew for about 10 years...just started back at it last year. I never ironed seams when sewing clothing...I do iron seams now. Something I started already and have only had this Janome Horizon about a month...I find myself lifting the presser foot before the needle goes back down on my last stitch. I LOVE using the thread cutter and I went to get "to it" too fast. Something else that I have done...and I don't think it's been mentioned...I WILL stretch fabric if it's a hair or 2 off. I will pull on the piece that needs to be a bit longer to try to get a perfectly aligned seam.