My mom taught me to sew. She was an expert - made clothes, sewed for the home, sewed bridal wear on occasion and did alterations for a local men's store when I was in high school. She scrimped on some things, but not on her machine. I learned on an Elna and that was what I bought when I got married. I sewed clothes for myself in high school and sewed for my daughter when she was born.
My 1st quilt was a log cabin in high school. Cutting the logs with pattern pieces was the WORST! It was black, red & white. My mom finished it when she started quilting years later and it's on a bed at her house.
My "real" quilting started in 2002. My mom showed me her cool rotary cutter, ruler and mat. I was hooked and took a beginning quilting class that winter. I replaced my Elna with a Pfaff (built in walking foot) and still love my machine. If only I could somehow carve out more harp space!