Thanks for your advice, everyone! I think y'all are right about it being drag from the quilt. I'm lifting it up more and making sure it's level with the presser foot and that has been helping. It's probably just a matter of me needing to get used to something new. :P I think adjusting the presser foot pressure would help a little too, but alas my machine doesn't have that option.
My quilting so far isn't as lovely and neat as everything I see on here, but practice practice practice! Like my FIL says, if I end up with a quilt at the end on a first attempt, I'm doing pretty good...