I have never fmq with the feed dogs up. I use the gloves and the slider, I also bought a oven liner at Walmart that is teflon and it cost about $5 I do use table behind the sewing machine and I have a cabinet I use on the side it all helps and lots of practice. Just don't wait as long as I did to jump in. Do some small items first like table runners baby quilts by the time you get done with a few projects you will have the nerve to do a quilt.