You've seen those beautiful wall hangings and quilts, and thought that is something you would like to do. If you have a sewing machine - go for it. If you don't have a sewing machine, you might want to rent or borrow one to see if quilting is something that you would like to try.

My neighbor is a real sweetheart, but a bit eccentric. She thought she would like to try sewing and ran up against an unscrupulous dealer who sold a novice like her a wonderful machine for $7,000!

For that exorbitant price, it can do anything from basic sewing to appliqu with blanket stitching to embroidery. Now, she's discovered that she really isn't interested in making quilts. It is too much detail work for her with all those small pieces to cut and piece together. So, the expensive machine just sits there gathering dust.

A basic machine that sews an even straight stitch will work fine. I have one that is 30 years old that I've kept in good repair by oiling it regularly and taking it in to a professional to have it checked over periodically. I did buy a newer machine for about $400 that works just fine.

My husband wondered why I would need two sewing machines. You never know when one will malfunction, and you need a back up right away. As long as the old one still works, I will store it.

You can probably find a good machine for about $250. There are three types of machines on the market. Computerized models like the one my neighbor bought can perform the widest variety of tasks, but you don't need all those bells and whistles for quilting. The mechanical kind, the most basic, uses manual knobs and dials, and is often the least expensive.

Electronic sewing machines are what you want for quilting. Besides having a straight stitch, it should also have an adjustable needle position and dual feed. With dual feed, both the top and bottom move the fabric through the needle position, which helps you match patterns or sew fabrics of different weights.

I also bought a special pressure foot for quilting that makes an exact 1/4 inch seam. This pressure foot was an added expense, but making exact seams are well worth the cost. I had always thought I was sewing a 1/4 inch seam with the regular pressure foot. After I bought the special quilting pressure foot, I found that my seams had really not been the right width, and that was why some of my blocks didn't end up the correct size that the pattern had said they should be.

If you've decided quilting is something you'd like to invest time and money in doing, having the correct tools makes a great difference in the quality of your results. No need doing the work if you aren't going to be satisfied with the final product.

To find a sewing machine you'd like to work with, do some research on-line and go to stores that specialize in sewing machines - they'll have the greatest selection and they'll be set up so you can test them. Bring some fabric with you, and enjoy the process of choosing the tool that will help you create beautiful quilts and wall hangings for your home and for gifts.