Absolutely practice. I have the BSR and would never have been brave enough to try meandering without it. It will take you a little while to get the feel of how the it works and find your rhythm. They say the key is practice, practice, practice. I also have a Juki on a frame, with a stitch regulator and have made my daughter some awesome dog crate throws while practicing with some material I got for $1 a yard and a thrift store blanket for batting and old sheet for backing. Didn't bind them, just serged the edges and my daughter loves them for the dogs...apparently the dogs love them too. She has laundered them a lot! and they have held up well.