Rebecca, there is something else you can use. It is not always the easiest thing to find, though. It is an oven liner sheet and I got mine from one of those shops that sells things for bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. and of course generally housewares. It wasn't very expensive. I cut some slits into it so I could slide it over the machine and cut a circle for the needle to have room for sewing. Then I taped it in a couple of places with Scotch-type tape. You can easily move it back,,, or flip it back to remove bobbin. Works for me.