I start in the middle in a "hidden spot" where the thread disappears in the pattern, my first is always a loop that ties back onto itself. No broken lines. I suggest doing a few placemats first to get the hang of it. I find that I go to the same size meanders everytime. I think it has to do with the amount of space on my domestic machine. I also think, puzzle pieces if it gets too consistent, I do a flower like design to change up the pattern. I work from the middle to the side, then to a corner then the next corner and back. If you sew yourself into a corner just run it off the end and start again somewhere else. No straight lines.