FMQ is not easy at first.....it took me weeks of practice before I felt comfortable with even stippling/meandering.....I found the transition from drawing by moving the pen, to drawing by moving the fabric under the needle, very difficult....so I drew the lines on the fabric first (washable markers) and following the lines....by the time I could follow the lines pretty good, I felt more comfortable "drawing" with the machine needle.....I would suggest making lots of small practice sandwiches, about 12x12 and draw a pattern on them and practice following the lines (with no thread)....you will get an idea of your skill by looking at the holes you left in the fabric....then work on following the lines with thread and keeping your stitch length even....good tension is a bonus of all things working together and a bit of adjustment.....just remember to practice, practice and then practice some more!