Girls we can quilt our quilts. So don't stop piecing. Hand quilting is easy to learn. With the internet & tutorials out there today, it is much easier to learn than when I self taught myself by just sitting down and doing it. It does take time to do, but it is so rewarding and relaxing. I also self taught myself to machine quilt. I learned on potholders and placemats. If you have a Jo Anns near by, use a coupon & buy the Kona Muslin in the wide widths for your backings if you prefer to not piece them. To practice learning machine quilting you can go to Thrift Shops and buy clothes made from 100% cotton and use the fabric to make a sandwich to practice on. We can do this. We have to keep making beautful quilts. Who knows...some of you may end up making beautful Show Quilts one day & look back on this topic and laugh at our panic mode. BTW I have an older cheap end Bernina and the throat is not all that big but I struggle and it does work. Some quilts just scream out to me to be handquilted though. So they are.