Great first try....my first try was REALLY bad. Practice REALLY does help. The BEST advise I can give you is RELAX. We all tend to tense up while quilting, I have to remember to relax and drop my shoulders....I tend to find them almost up to my ears while quilting. When I relax I do much better work...it is hard at first but you will get there. practice, practic, practic. BTW...you can use your practice pieces for potholders or rug mugs, etc....my husband using an old practice piece of mine to cover his Harley. LOL!