THANK YOU for the advice, you Virginia belle! I copied what you said so I can have it beside me when I practice. And I will practice.
I have been making baby quilts for the Newborns In Need group I belong to and it is so boring to staight stitch quilt that probably the last 15 or so I've tried to master the freehand. It doesn't matter that I wasn't good I was trying and the underlying quilts were good.
Now I'm pumped to sew, but alas I'll be babysitting the grandchildren the next couple days (though I love that too).