1 1/2 years, never sewed before. My Mother did all of the sewing. dad's suits, ties, shirts and anything else you can think of but never machine quilted. I started out hand quilting. In the last couple of months I started machine quilting. I've completed one machine quilt and am on my second. Yesterday I discovered I had 2 speeds on my machine and didn't have to move the material as fast as the speed of the machine. I'm finding it a lot easier and I don't get as tired. lol dumb de dumb de. I think beginners should show newbe's how to quilt because they wouldn't say sew as fast as you can when you quilt and would start at the beginning telling you to set the speed on min and how to move your material. I guess older quilters take it for granted that you know this part, bless their pea pick'en hearts. lol