I've been thinking about this question ever since it was posted, and the answer is - I don't know. I didn't start quilting until 2006, long after I retired. I was looking for a hobby, because I was bored, and wanted to find out if I had an ounce of creativity in my body. I bought a book from Singer to find out how to get started, including what tools I would need, and then went to the local JoAnn's to buy them. On that trip I met two ladies from a neighboring town and they invited me to join the quilting guild and the weekly sewing group. I do think that without that group of ladies and their generosity in welcoming and teaching a newcomer I wouldn't have become a quilter.