I use parchment paper like you use in baking to draw a pattern on and then pin it on the quilt - I work in sections - and follow that. The parchment paper rips away from the stitching fairly easily and you can see through it to trace the pattern. I have used tissue paper as well like you use in gift wrapping but the parchment paper is a little stronger. Gloves with grippies help me too. You can buy quilting gloves but garden gloves with grippies on them are cheaper and work well too. I use a Frixon pen for tracing the pattern on the parchment paper so if any ink comes off on the thread then it easily is ironed and washed away. I find that by tracing the pattern like I would sew it helps get my mind in the right motion sequence and when I go to sew it it is already familiar.