Never give up, just keep trying, it will come to you.

Even Karen McTavish and Kimmy Brunner mark their quilts, use templates and stencils, so you are in good company!!! I find that Karen McTavish's feathers are the easiest for me to do (ok, yeah, I have a longarm), but her feathers don't have much backtracking and she taught me to start with a "hook" feather so when I join up my line of feathers on a border they fit together much more easily! Lots of doodling with the "bump-bump" really helps get it into muscle memory.

You are not alone Grammy I feel the very same way. The sad part is I've been practicing for a great long while and it still does not look very good. So I feel your pain.

The best tip I have stumbled upon in trying to learn FMQ, is the same tip that I give my students when teaching them to ride a motorcycle, oddly enough...

That is: Look where you want to go, not where you are. If you look at the needle and what it's sewing, you'll always be behind, and it is difficult being smooth when you're behind what the machine is doing. Instead, always look ahead at where you want the line or curve or whatever to go -- your brain and your muscle memory will take care of the rest.

Works for me, at least...

Just relax with it and it will come.

QKO, that's the way I was taught to use scissors to cut a straight line, look at the point of the scissors and not at the place where they're going through the fabric.

I'm with you, it sure takes alot of practice but I'm learning alot from others, videos from Leah Day and SewCalGal who has a monthly challenge.Just go at your own pace, step away when you become frustrated and try to relax. I can't compare myself to others, it just gets discouraging. We all learn different ways, and have our own pace....hang in there.

I've made a couple bow tuck purses and practiced FMQ on them. It has helped some. It really does takes lots and lots of practice.

I love feathers, I just finished my first full quilt. Sorry I don't know how to attach photo. My feathers aren't perfect but all all bird feathers the same
Keep trying

Oh I found putting in music that gets my groove really helps "flow" my FMQ (and a glass of wine doesn't hurt ;) ).