Depending upon your machine and the stitches it has, you could find a pretty stitch on your machine and use that, particularly one with a zigzag effect, not necessarily in straight lines for the zig zag. I often use one of my stitches that are almost half a circle, and since the stitch goes from side to side, the sewing isn't noticed as not being straight if I do a STD. However, I must pat my back a bit, I like to do STD and normally do a very good job on it. But I often get lazy too and just use a decorative stitch on my quilts. I don't have a long arm and have trouble with feathers looking great.