Great topic!
I learned to machine sew in home ec. I started mostly sewing clothes. My first machine was this HEAVY green singer in a white plastic case. It was sitting in a closet and I asked my dad if it worked. That machine is a work horse, but I could never get the tension right. My boyfriend (DH now) bought me a brother for Christmas one year. I started watching Simply Quilts and thought - hey, I can do this. I bought her beginning quilters book and off I went. I love all fabrics, especially the repros. I tried cross stitching, but for me, it was too much work for something sooo small! Also tried to crochet, was ok at it, but the yarn made my eyes itch!