I've been using this machine for about 3 years now and I love it!! Highly recommend for piecing...I use the knee lifter and heel cutter constantly...between the two I feel that I'm so efficient - no extra time lifting the the presser foot or cutting with scissors or even swiping on the side cutter. The only thing I wish it had come with was a high shank 1/4" foot without the guide. I found a high shank universal 1/4" foot without the guide but when I went to look for it to link here I couldn't find it anymore. It was about $14 and I found it under Janome presser feet.