Thank you for your responses. Per the suggestion above, I went and bought the Clear View 1/4" Seam Foot.
I have changed to the straight stitch needle plate, checked by turning the hand wheel that the needle goes straight down the hole, but my machine will not work with the this foot/plate combination. I keep getting the "machine is started without the needle plate" symbol on the screen.
Help!
At this rate, I'm going to have to use the O foot with the guide. I'm losing time quickly to get two quilts done by Christmas.