Maybe we've live the same life! I was 15, Grandpa gave me her machine after she died. I saw a beautiful $150 quilt with individual puffs in a department store.That was alot of money in 1971. I would try to make it. I didn't buy enough fabric as I had no idea how much was needed. Long story short: 5 different yellows, 16 lbs. of "stuffing" later, I had made a double. I got married in 1980; we have never used it, as we've lived in AZ, CA & NV (southern areas of each) & it's light yellows! We could get that dirty just from dust in about 1 week! My husband made a beautiful wooden chest in which it has "lived" for about 30 years!HA