Machingers gloves! Please! They will make all your quilting and sewing so much easier.
And loops on the back may mean bobbin or machine threaded incorrectly or bad upper or lower tension. Be careful changing your bobbin tension though as just teensy adjustments will make a big difference in how your stitches come out.
Hang in there! You'll get it. (You should have seen some of my earliest FMQ attempts!).
Dana