I have been a SID and straight line quilter for a long time. I was sure that I couldn't FMQ but then our LQS bought a mid arm machine set-up and provided lessons and rent out the room for $50 a day. Our guild started quilting our Community Quilts there and between the introductory lesson and the chance to practice on an utility quilt, it gave me the confidence to really try FMQ for the first time. I then came home and tried it out on my Janome 6500 and found out that it isn't as difficult as I once thught. I'm not proficient at it yet but what I can do is quite adequate for the user friendly practical quilts that I turn out. I have entered my first quilt that I have FMQ in our local fair this weekend which is a huge step for me. I'll probably never give up on SID or straight line quilting but now I have a greater choice.