I would suggest, what ever set up you use, start with a muslin quilt sandwich.. once you get the hang of it..you can switch over to your quilt top. I would have been very upset if I had started with a real quilt. The other piece, I saved for posterity..and the reason why I will ALWAYS remember to put the presser foot down! lol My other practice pieces have been made into dog beds..stuffed with my throw aways and taken to the local dog rescue. Those pooches never knew they were laying on thread art!