I use my straight stitch plate for piecing and FMQ and the zig zag plate for machine embrodiery. I, too, like the others have forgotten more times than not to change the plate. Not only have I broken needles, I also scarred my plate so it has a barb that I tried to file smooth, but no luck so now I have to use the left hole. Anybody have any suggestions on how to get the barb out? Thanks in advance.