Two things I have done is practice using paper and no thread. Draw a design you like and just stitch over it so you get the muscle memory of making curves and such. Also, get some cheap printed panel fabrics and quilt them by following the lines. It's like coloring in a coloring book, and you can always get fancy inside the designs to practice as you progress. You can make them into kids quilts, or table mats if you like to use your work for a purpose.