Just a thought....make something not so big, and something that won't really matter if there are mistakes. Then try it out to get comfortable with it. Maybe like the size of a wall hanging. Because if you try this and things go wrong you would be so upset if it was something you were giving as a gift. etc. Its alot of fun. And before I had my quilting machine this is how I fmq'd my quilts. Play you some music to get you going in a good relaxing rhythm and before you know it, you will be going at it like you were born to do it. :D :thumbup: