I get my pantos from Willow Leaf studio and have some from Colombia River, anyway I find that humming helps me keep a relaxed even flow. I also trace with my finger before I start especially if it is a new panto or a more complex one. I started with a loose meander and worked with that on several samples and then moved on to use it on quilts. I have a friend that needed some quilts done and told me to practice on them, they actually looked pretty good.