I marked the quarter inch measurement on the long side of a 3" x 5" index card, then put my needle down through center of the line (no thread), and used the edge of the card as a template to draw a line with a permanent marker right on the bed of the machine. It does fade with time and use, so I draw it again as needed. I do extend the line past the needle position to avoid the "cut corner" problem I seem to have at the end of seams. Works great.