WELL I was taught metal to the pedal but in my case that did not work for me. If you can slow your machine down it may help that is what did it for me. I also used the silk thread it is real fine and very forgiving sure I made mistakes but when I got done it looked okay Well what it did for me was to give me the courage to keep trying and using heavier threads and different designs. I sure hope you keep trying you should do it every day for at least 10 minutes or more you will be surprised by the end of a week or so.