I'm so glad to know I can do without! Oh, I'm just THRILLED to find this forum and be able to ask you experts for your opinions! So, here is another question- after a day of practice, I'm consistently getting 8-10 stitches per inch (I know- nothing to write home about, but I'm really happy!), but over appliqué areas (needle-turned) and bulky seam allowance areas, it's more like 5-6. Any suggestions (short of avoidance of the areas)?