You will find it easier to get good results on a practice piece as it is not as large as when you have to wield the big quilt around. Try to do a "quilt as you go" project to start with - that way you are only quilting smaller squares and then sewing them together. I have done a few and they are much easier than managing a full quilt as most of the bulk can hang off to the left of the machine. I have done the Cheryl Phillips 'Rings that Bind" and a Cotton Theory project which you can find on Nancy Zieman's website. Hope you feel more confident as you have success. It took me 2 years to have the courage as I didn't want to 'ruin' my tops.