Something I've learned over the years in seminars to help my students is that we record information in different ways in different parts of our brain. For example writing notes [not word processing them] about something we are learning records in a different part of the brain than what we see or hear about the same thing. That's why so many free motion books/instructors encourage you to use a white board or paper and pencil and practice a free motion pattern you want to master over and over. Even if you are drawing on the fabric or using a stencil every pattern can be broken down into specific movements. So if you haven't already - try drawing your meander pattern the way you want to do it over and over; then go back to your practice sandwich and see if it helps.