I machine quilt most of my quilts and I'm still learning too. I use a very thin thread, size 60 or higher in top and bobbin. I make sure it will blend with the quilt colors and not stand out. I loosen the top tension. I set the stitch length to 0 if free motion quilting. If using a walking foot I set the stitch length to 3.5 or 4. I use thin batting so there won't be a thick layer to sew through. I keep the quilting very simple. A straight cross hatching looks fantastic on most quilts.