Thank you ladies!! She generally makes bed sized quilts, but also placemats and aprons. No appliqué. I have Fiskars that I love and have had forever, but wasn't sure about the handles. So, the spring loaded ones would be the way to go then? She cranks out quilts like nobody's business, all on the cheapest machine her kids could find from Walmart. (Most of her sewing is done for her kids and grandkids...graduation/wedding/anniversary gifts) It costs $40/cleaning because they have to take it completely apart just to get to the area that accumulates lint! (She's on a very limited income) Right now she has to literally pull the fabric through the machine as the feed dogs are bogged down with lint! All with her very arthritic hands. Grrr...does it show that I'm upset? I'm going to have my handy DH nab her machine and see if he can get it cleaned out for her. Ok, done venting!