Dove, do you have the quarter inch foot for your machine? I've had my PfaffQE 2044 for about 11yrs and use this foot for all my straight stitching. Another thing you might try, spray sizing on all fabric before it is cut and or stitched. After reading about doing this for years, I got on the bandwagon, finally, and am having better results with my current quilt project. It takes a lot of sizing but the $1.25 a can is worth the price.