Mitch's Mom - it would REALLY help if you could watch someone doing it beside you. Do you know anyone who does it, that could help you in person? Can you drop in on a quilt guild? Or a senior center?
I know when I started hand quilting it was very tough until I took a one hour lesson on it, then it all fell into place.
practice, practice, practice, ..... call the Red Cross for transfusions as needed...