This is exactly why I keep my old Elna, bought new in 1964 and cost what was, in those days, a fortune. I hauled it out two years ago to sew up a pillow cover for my grandaughter that was heavy brocade and the center top was a latch-hook picture on that heavy weave. I always used pins and flew over them after buying this machine. Now, with a computerized machine, I had to re-train very seriously. I still use pins on occasion, but make sure to sew slowly and pull them before I get to them.