Our DGD was sewing on the featherweight briefly a couple of Summers ago, and loved it. I had some Blue Check Gingham. It made it easy for her to stay on the line where there was something already there for a guide. She just made straight lines that day. She wanted to come back to make something using the same fabric. They moved, tho, so it made it more difficult. I wouldn't have thought of the check fabric had I been trying!! It just came to me as I pulled it out of the stash. Good luck!Mariah