It is a long learning curve. I just retrofitted my Gammil with a stitch regulator and am sort of learning all over again so I sympathize. I have found that, when my thread starts breaking often, it is almost always the thread. Buy good thread. These days, I rely on Bob's Superior threads and get the best I can afford. It saves a ton of aggravation. As to the curves, and "drawing" on the fabric, that's just practice, practice, practice. If you have the opportunity, taking a class helps a great deal as well.