My 1st Viking was a Designer 1 combo machine bought in 2000. Used it for 15+ years before trading it in for their Epic. Love how the foot hovers just above the fabric so you can move it around a bit but still have your needle down into the fabric. Had a Babylock machine and I think it hovered too but now can't remember but my little Brother machine doesn't and I sure hate having to lift up the foot every time to pull my fabric out. Guess we get used to certain things.