Practice, practice, practice works, but it really did help me to take a hands on class on FMQ. This was some years ago, and it was taught by a well known quilter in a nearby LQS one afternoon, something like 4 hours. She helped me to overcome the fear of making feathers by FMQ. We took turns on the two longarm quilters in the store, and it was well worth the time and money. I have seen FMQ classes (either half or full day) being offered the day before a quilt/sew expo starts. This may be worth investigating the next time an expo is scheduled at a nearby convention center, etc.