some have said if they had to hand quilt, they wouldn't be a quilter. Well, If I had to do it by machine, I wouldn't be a quilter. I am so techniqually challanged, that the long arms really intimidate me. I wouldn't even try. but you give me a needle, a thimble a hoop and that little rubber thingy and I am in my element. As long as there are people like me it won't die out, but the younger generation have been raised on instant gratification so in years to come there will only be a handful who just hand quilt for the pure enjoyment of it.