When I first learned how to free-motion on a long arm, I was so discouraged! I could see every flaw, every crooked line, everything wrong! The nice man I bought it from (I'll confess...it was a Gammill) asked me what I was quilting on. Before I could answer, he said, let me guess....muslin and black thread. Correct. He said "stop doing that! Use good fabric (even to practice) and MATCHING thread. Made a world of difference. Never forgot that.