The walking foot for regular machine quilting is perfect but when you drop the feed dogs, it's a whole different ballgame!! The start/stop button was what was giving me trouble until I discovered Mode 2 as mentioned in my last message. Duckydo, you are right about doodling on paper first or even tracing a design with your finger - it sets it in your brain. I also practiced a lot in the beginning by free-motion stitching the alphabet and since our brain is already hard-wired to do that from grade school, it really is quite easy!