I think the trouble with this plate has nothing to do with the fabric being there or not, but the place where it was stored. Irishrose said her machine got rusty with the cotton fabric there. I think it was probably a poor quality plate to begin with. I have a 1956 Singer that had been not used for at least 30 years, but had been stored in the desk especially designed for it. I was using the desk for my office. I pulled it out this year when my Bernina was in the "hospital", and started using it. It ran perfectly. I had had it cleaned and oiled shortly before I had stopped using it, and it went straight to work. I know I should have oiled it before using it, but it had work to do. I love that machine. It has the small hole in the throat plate, and doesn't bunch up the fabric or thread, whether or not I have my startie-stoppie there.