I first sewed on my mothers treadle, then the newer ones in high school. I lost interest until I bought my 401A in a cabinet. An elderly lady who sewed for a living took me under her wing and helped me learn my machine and how to do the more difficult things in garment making. I watched my Mom and DGM quilt all the time I was growing up so when I started quilting I just taught myself. I learned a lot from mag's and books. I got over the hard parts by doing them over until I got it right. My first quilt was a difficult pieced quilt that I did not know until I had finished it was for advanced quilters but it turned out very pretty so it took away the fear of just jumping in and doing anything I want to make.