I have several Bernina's, 131, 140, 830 and formerly 200e. I found that using the straight stitch throat plate works best for 1/4 inch with the #37 pressure foot. I'm not a fan of the #57, but that's personal. If you can't sell your machine, think about donating it to a school or 4H group. You might be able to get a tax deduction. Personally, I'd try purchasing the throat plate first. I've done FMQ and stitching on all my machines.