My 201 is a large powerful machine and I have no trouble FM quilting on it. The stitch is great and the feed dogs will lower. The bobbin holds lots of thread and isn't a problem when quilting. The machine does not balk, growl or veer off seam intersections like my Janome 6500 and I think the throat space is just as large because the machine harp is higher. I picked mine up as a free to a good home machine. It's original owner just wanted somebody to love it and use it.