JustJan, thank you for all the information and good wishes. I will be checking out all your suggestions. I saw that the machine comes with the 1/5" foot and wondered about whether it might work like a scant 1/4" -- you answered that question for me. Sounds like you got a great deal on the 2010 (mine is "just" the 2000 model and doesn't have the bunny/tortoise speed moderator, so I'll have to get along without it!). Thanks again for the encouragement!