I started quilting in 2006 and bought my longarm (26" Innova on 12' frame) at the end of 2009. Before that I quilted in sections, and that worked well on most quilts. I had no experience on the longarm when I bought it, and I really have not practiced as much as I should have since then. I do not quilt professionally - just my own quilts and some charity quilts for the guilds.