While waiting to use your machine, practice on paper or a wipe off board. Hold your pencil straight up and down and keep your wrist off the table. Work on developing a smooth pattern for a meander that just keeps your hand moving without stopping to think about it. then go on to practice other continuous designs you would like to use. This will give you a chance to start developing muscle memory.
I took an online class on feathers and we did a lot of drawing first. It made a big difference when we went to stitch out the designs.