I mostly use the zig-zag plate for every everything...I tend to go back and forth between projects and have broke too many needles. If I know for sure I will ONLY be doing straight stitch for a long time, I will use my straight stitch plate, and then I put a REALLY bright colored post it note on my machine as a reminder what plate I have on. That way, I am much less likely to break a needle, though, it has still happened.