Are you doing by hand or machine? I'm only on my 2nd quilt (by hand) and I draw a line 1/4" from seam and quilt in the shadow. It means extra work but since I'm also practicing on getting my stitches smaller, it helps me to keep them straighter. Can only concentrate on one thing at a time. I found one square that I hadn't marked and I did surprisingly well in keeping the line straight. As a friend told me, it takes practice, practice, practice. I'm doing a QS and it looks like 3 different people have worked on it (my stitches are getting smaller and better).

Keep on quilting and don't be so hard on yourself.

I agree with everyone who says you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Didn't you fall when you first learned to walk? Didn't you fall off the bike when you first learned? Of course; we all do and each person her has been a beginner at one point also.

I have a Bernina Aurora 430 and had a lot of trouble stitching in the ditch before buying the #10 foot that goes right down the middle. See if your machine has a foot like this available. If not, know what I do? I zigzag the seams I want, right OVER that ditch. Makes it look effortless. If you have a decorative stitch that is wide, why not use that?

Just relax and enjoy what you CAN do right now. It will get better, I promise. When I made my first quilt, I pieced it all and put a backing on it, then turned it inside out, ironed it and thought that was quilting. My sister-in-law who works for HandiQuilt said, "Uhhh, Nolee, you just sewed it now you have to QUILT it." I thought it was all done with the sewing. NOW how smart do you feel? A lot smarter than I was, that's for sure. LOL

Don't be so hard on yourself. Are you hand or machine? I'm only on my 2nd hand piecing/hand quilting project--a QS. It takes extra work but I mark each piece 1/4 from seam and quilt "in the shadow". It takes extra work but that way I only have to concontrate on getting my stitches even. It already looks 3 different people have been working on the quilt. A friend told me not to get discouraged because it takes practice, practice, practice.

Keep on quilting!

I have machine quilted each quilt I have made. Mine are California King, King and Queen with only a few baby size. Each quilt 'quilted' different. Some were a breeze, some were monsters, and some were just victims, some fought with me and some just gave in.
One of my favorite quilts was whole piece with super thick batting. I was innocent, I didn't know better. It fought, I won. It has been washed repeatedly for years. It is still fluffy and doesn't look 'aged'.
My next roll of batting was thin. I chose it because it was the one on sale. What a lucky day for me! Thin batting is now my choice. The quilts are much easier to sandwich and obedient when being quilted.
The Quiltingboard introduced me to the value of a walking foot. How did I survive without one? Oh, my, goodness! On my present quilt, I learned a new (for me) trick that saved my quilt and my sanity. The quilt is a Bargello so it is strips. My success factor was using the walking foot and the basting length stitch. I stitched close to the seams to sandwich the quilt then came back over that with a decorative stitch.
I have also learned I don't have to have all of the quilt under the throat of the machine to get to the area I am sewing. Try laying the quilt on the workspace, leave the bulk of the quilt there. Bring the outer edge or corner of the sandwich under the walking foot and slide it until your needle is where you want to stitch. Smooth that space and stitch then keep smoothing and stitching.
Good luck, don't let the quilt win!!!!!!!

I didn't read all of the replies here. I am sure they are all very supportive. I just want to throw in my 2 cents. I find SID rather frustrating. I can't seem to keep it in the ditch either. I find a meander much easier and much more forgiving. Or a simple loopy all over. Give it a try on a 36 inch practice piece. I bet by time you get to the bottom you will have found a technique you really like. The secrets are RELAX, put the pedal to the metal and move your hands slowly and start the machine before moving your fabric after stopping to reposition your hands.

You're right! If SID is not invisible it looks awful. But a gently wavy line looks like a unique design detail, not that SID was to difficult - great way to go! From that gently wavy line, you're not too far from freemotion - and then there's no stopping you. So take eveyone's advice and hang in there - it WILL get easier and look better!

Post pictures of my quilting? Not in this lifetime. My quilting stinks, too. I just keep doing it though. I know I'll never make beautiful quilts like I've seen on this quilting board, but, no one sees them anyway, so I'll just keep at it. Maybe I'll get better and maybe I won't. Who cares? It's for me and no one else. If I don't like it, I'll give it to the Christian Mission. If I do, GREAT!

That's what I'm sayin'.
Piecing a quilt top and then quilting the quilt are 2 very different types of interests and skills.
I have friends who love to piece but hate to quilt. Some of those have low bank balances from sending out to quilters and some of them have stacks of flimsies.
I have other friends who can't do piecing, their minds don't go for that at all, but who love quilting and are very good at it.
Then there are those who can do and who love to do both.
We all fall somewhere in this lineup of skills/interests.

But hang in there. If you have a motivation to quilt the quilt then you will gain that skill with practice.
.

I have spent many hours practising machine quilting and just cannot get it right so now all I do is hand quilting - takes longer but the end result is soooooo much better

Don't be so hard on yourself. I can't machine quilt to save my life. I have made some quilt-as-you-go quilts. That has boosted my confidence. I also bought a stich-in-the-ditch foot for my sewing machine. It works beautifully. Also I am more relaxed using it.

If you keep trying and practicing you will get it.