I haven't read all the comments, but when I gave teenagers sewing lessons, I told them it is like driving a car. You simply steer the fabric, not push, pull or stretch. You look ahead of the needle (in front of it), where you are going not where you have been (behind the needle). You don't have to worry about what the needle is doing, kinda like the car tires. If you steer properly, everything will work just great. When you use the "gas" pedal you push slowly, not gunning it. They found these analogies very easy to understand.