Oh, I don't think she was really judging you, I think, as she said, "It just hit a nerve." For myself, I am a newbie, and I have every gadget ever invented to help w/quilting. :oops: IMHO, they actually extended the learning process and are not really of any use. :? It is kind of like keeping your training wheels on too long. I had become dependent and now I have to work really hard at just cutting or sewing a straight line on my own. HTH