ok Kensington, going to go try setting the needle to the right instead of straight down. That should give some extra room. Heck, I draw the 1/4 in line on the back to make sure double that I get that 1/4" down so either its this machine or I am just not seeing it right now in my head. A major possibility. I will try that same pattern AGAIN this way and let you know my results. Sounds like that should do it just thinking of it in my head. I don't need to change the foot however to do that it wont hit the plate on this dinasaur.