Make sure the machine is threaded correctly and sewing well when sewing a straight line. Change the foot to a darning or hopping foot, drop or cover the feed dogs to prepare the machine for FMQ. Make your layers and thread the machine with thread that you know works well for your machine. Start by taking a few stitches in place and start to move. The trick to prevent the eye lashes is to set the machine at a medium to slow speed and press the foot pedal to the max. Also don't move the fabric too fast. Fast needle and slow hand will give you nice stitches. As you get more experience you can increase the speed of the needle. If after this you still have the same problems, try changing the tension a little at a time. Don't change more than one thing at once. otherwise you will never know what corrected it. By increasing the speed also you will prevent the skipped stitches. This happen because you move the fabric before the machine as a chance to complete the cycle. Once you have it working fine you can switch to a smaller thread. I find that not every machine is good for FMQ. If after trying everything the problem is still there, it may not be you. It may as well be your machine.