There is backing fabric, and I have a little, that has the stippling quilt pattern on it.
Good for a first timer. There is also a special foot.

You've made me feel I could do this. Hardly rambling.

Practice is the key. An inexpensive way to do that is to double over some substantial paper towel and practice on that on your machine. You will only have used some thread instead of good fabric. You also save time not having to make the sandwiches.

This is a trick I learned in sewing class in Jr. High School for regular sewing lessons and it will work here also. WOW! Now that I think of it I learned it back in 1952! Guess I am getting older. LOL

I have that machine also. You didn't catch the bobbin thread where it should be I think. That happened to me a while back and that was the solution.

Doodle on paper, or better yet a white board. This really does help, I do it when I want to do a new patten. Once I am satisfied with what is on paper I go to my machine.

I have been taught to make a sandwich using cheap muslin and the batting I most use and then practice on those pieces. There is something about the eye-hand coordination and practice that makes it work.
Unfortunately, the key is practice, practice, practice.....and then.....it clicks and you never forget it...like riding a bicycle.. :D

I would mark off my quilt in sections, (at least fourths, sometime more) with blue painters tape.

been there and had that happen. It could be the pressure foot was not put down, or the tension of the upper and lower threads are off. keep practicing with samples and it will happen. the good thing is that is easy to undo with it so loopy. Good luck.

Another trick I leaned in a class was to get a large pattern fabric and quilt around the motifs. I have also quilted from the back using the backing fabric as my motif.

meandering if fun once you master it.
1. lower feed dogs as it's all free motion
2. Thread machine with good thread
3. Get a beat going, I use music
4. Their are patterns that you can purchases to practices with
5. If I want it really good, I use wash-a-way that I have marked with a pen, then follow the lines.
Once you have done it several times using the patterns, you have master it. Then it's just fun.
Also, keep the machine running at the same speed and let the phone ring till you get an area finished. I seems to move differently each day, so I try to finishes a block or area before leaving for the day.