Anything is possible. If you are dedicated, choose your pattern well, and are willing to let the dust bunnies have their way with your house for a while, a quilt can be made in a short time, even by a newbie. If you are already a garment sewist, you already are ahead of the pack because you already can wrangle your sewing machine and handle cutting fabric. If you choose the right fabrics, 8" blocks alternating with two or three colors can be stunning. Machine quilting doesn't always have to be Free Motion Quilting. The Modern Quilt Movement is "big" on minimalist quilting. "Go Modern" and avoid things like straight lines, or stitch in the ditch, and just drive that quilt under the machine in wavy and unevenly spaced lines in every which way. Give it with pride, and tell them it's "made that way" because it's "all the rage." Yes you can !! make a quilt in a day. Go for it! Just make sure Hubby knows that if he puts the pressure on you again like that, it will involve jewellery store shopping!!!