It all depends on YOU!!! Each method has it own rewards and hassells. Hand quilting is becoming a lost art. It is slower to hand quilt so you do not get as many quilts done. It also seem like it would be harder to learn to become very proficient with your hand stitches in hand quilting. However hand quilting is really beautiful and there is certain details that you can not get with machine quilting. Machine quilting is much quicker and easier to learn. However it does take a sewing machine which may add to the cost. You can do both hand peice a quilt top and then have it machine quilted or visa versa. Only you can choose which method you prefer!