Thanks for the replies. Quilter...good suggestion..I have also left a straight stitch plate on..but not on this occasion. I did consider buying one at Walmart. What I am going to do is get my daughters Viking 740 I think is the model. I will use it until I go home. Hopefully it will not break. I have had Vikings since 1976... This is the first problem I have ever had. My daughter is so busy with her 1 1/2 year twins, she does not have time to sew anything. Carol aka Reba