I am teaching myself QAG and it can be challenging. My first real, planned quilt, I paid to have quilted ('quilting by check' they call it). The quilter did an amazing job for me, but I quickly realized that the quilt I was making for me no longer felt like my work since she had done the hard part for me. My next four quilts I quilted myself using SID ( stitch in the ditch), but my shoulder objected strongly due to arthritis. I hand quilted a "cheater" panel years ago, but my "death grip" on the needle bends them. I am now trying to master QAG so that the whole quilt stays 'my work'. Your experiences will influence how you quilt yours. Do what feels good and makes you happy. Just plan to try different methods since you have time until Christmas. Enjoy and Welcome from Oregon.