If your are a very impatient person, or lose interest easily then you need a machine. I started quilting in high school, i started out by hand lost interest, my aunt ended up sewing the quilt and i didn't finish one until my early twenties, now i do everything by machine. I think i got my cheap brother machine on overstock.com for i think 109 at the time and it has a small quilting table and about 30 stitches, and sews beautiful. I highly recommend you get a machine. Hand work is good for traveling like hand applique.