I'm loving this thread too. My mother had no idea what it took to make a quilt. The time, fabric cost, etc. Now she does so never asks me to make one as a gift for one of her friends. She does have one of her own though 1st quilt off my new Innova system when I got it back in 2012.
A young couple heard I made quilts and the hubby wanted to make one so I told him I would teach him, even supple the fabrics for his 1st one (possibly his only one). I made him go thru the entire process of picking out a quilt pattern, the fabrics from my stash, starching them and pressing them all 1st. Then I gave him the rules on the rotary cutter, sewing machine, etc. He had to do all of it himself. He's a bit slow but meticious so I'm happy he will finish it. He chose the snail trail pattern, not a beginner pattern by far. Then his wife picked out the quilt pattern and fabrics she wanted for the quilt I'd make them. I'm making quilts for everyone in my small congregation so this didn't bother me. It takes a lot of the pain of deciding what to make them out of my hands. BUT....................................I told them that their quilt would only be made if hubby got his quilt made 1st by the end of this year. Otherwise I would enlarge the quilt to queen size and finish it for them and this would be their quilt from me. Nothing like a threat to make sure it gets finished