I believe we have the best of both worlds...the memories of those folks who quilted years ago when you "made do" with what you had. Today we have modern gadgets such as the Rotary cutter which helps crippled hands so much (and of which my own mother was terrified to use). My mother used a Singer machine back when Singers were the best. I use a Janome with the "needle-down" element and the "1/4-inch foot" that helps me produce much better work. Aren't we lucky? I also document the stories behind the quilts so that the makers' identities are not lost forever.