I started out with a non fancy longarm that I learned to meander on. It took me a good 3 years to get proficient at it. During that time I had a lot of trouble with the machine, where it was off at the factory for 3 months at a time being repaired. Then I wised up and got a HQ Avante with Pro stitcher. It has been a wonderful learning experience. Three years of wonderful quilting. So far this year "Bob" has quilted 65 quilts, both for me and my friends. I do very little FMQ because I just don't like "wasting" time practicing. The Avante has the ability to disengage the computerized part so you have free motion capabilities without the heaviness of the machine. Three years with "Bob" and still learning. I make several tops at a time so that I have 3 or 4 tops lined up, then I do one after another.