I feel the same way. I have started by just straight line 'stitch in the ditch', and that has worked out well, so you might try that at first. Also, start on a smaller size quilt, like a baby quilt as it is much easier. As for free motion, I have just been practicing on scrap sandwich squares 12-18 inches, but haven't got the nerve to do it on a quilt yet either. I just sent two quilt tops that I finished (and really liked) to a long-arm quilter to do for me. Maybe some of us are just 'piecers', not 'quilters'--nothing wrong with that!