I also quilt all my quilts myself. It was very important to me that I made the entire quilt. I self taught myself on my domestic machine. That worked unless the quilt was larger than a baby quilt. I bought a Sit Down Janome Artistic and have not regretted that decision. Free motion was quite the learning curve. I heard somewhere that to learn this techinique, one must practice. And so the practice began and continues! Every quilted item was a practice piece and actually, it still is! Most folks are so grateful to receive a quilted gift, the stitching is never questioned. And once the quilt is washed and dried, and it has that wonderful crumply antique look to it, the stitching is just part of the quilt, and I start another one and practice some more!