I have done both. My first major quilt was a machine embroideried Jenny Haskins "The Color Purple". Why I started it I'll never know. I'm not even a fan of purple. Anyway, I worked on it for over 10 years with the mindset that I spent all this money, I'm not going to waste it. Finally finished it and I tolerate it if someone comes and loves it, they will leave with it. The other instance is the navy and floral kingsize quilt that I recently posted pics of. I completely dismantled it, changed the blocks around, put it back together and now I love it.