I was going to self teach myself the quilting in around '84-85. I started a 'grandmother's garden'. Made the templets from construction paper. Of course, scissors were used and hand pieced, you know it's my oldest UFO in a box in storage. So the rotary cutter and the mat are the most improvement to the art form. I remember reading about Eleanor Burn's 'Quilting in a Day.' But, I've never been able to complete a project in a day, but I do enjoy the process more now. Please let's not forget that 'walking foot,' for us straight line quilter that use our domestic machines. I have planned to finish the thirty something old piece this year.