I am a "intermediate" quilter learning hand quilting. I made 2 baby quilts that I machine pieced and then machine quilted. When I got done quilting the 1st one, I thought "I didn't really enjoy that." When I finished quilting the 2nd one, I thought, "Nope, not for me." My 3rd baby quilt I machine pieced and then hand quilted. Even through the "learning opportunities" it was much more enjoyable. I am now hand quilting my son's full size quilt. Nothing fancy, just SITD on a woven basket pattern. But the important thing is....I AM ENJOYING MYSELF. And I think that is the important thing. Don't you?