1) Are you sewing on a zigzag machine? The wider hole on a ZZ tends to 'eat' fabric when you start sewing. Is there a straight stitch foot available for your machine? That would help. My granddaughter used leaders and enders when she made a quilt with a ZZ machine and never had a problem. Start your first stitches at the edge of the fabric.
2) Sew a stitch or two off the fabric, lift the presser foot and the fabric should pull away without a problem. If you meet any resistance, turn the hand wheel on the machine a 1/4 turn.
3) I like a screw on metal accessory sold at the quilt store for my 1/4" seams.
Welcome to the wonderful of quilting.