I totally understand -- there are several members of my quilting bee that finish a quilt within several weeks --me, it takes months and months as I have so many other things to do!!-- I piece and quilt by machine although when I first started quilting, I handquilted -- don't get discouraged or frustrated

My first quilt took 11 years - with Many done between the start & finish of that first one.

Truth be told, my first quilt never did get finished. One of these days I will fix the problems and get it done.

Why don't you look at this first one as the maiden voyage into a wonderful hobby land. Learn from it and enjoy the process. You will look back at it with fondness and a sense of accomplishment.

There are a number of people that do the quilting by hand, but I honestly don't know of anyone on this board that pieces by hand (except English paper piecing, but that's different). I admire the fact that you want to learn a traditional skill, but hand piecing seems like torture to me! You will never see that sewing!

Taking a how-to-sew class to introduce you to machine sewing is a great idea. I would suggest that you look at vintage sewing machines before buying new; you seem like the kind of person that would appreciate a classic machine, and for quilting you really can get all you need at a very good price this way. People in the vintage section of the board can give you good advice on selecting a machine.

For your current project, if you want to get it done but keep on piecing by hand, consider making it smaller. I don't know how big you were planning on making it, but it could always be sized down to become a throw, or a baby quilt, or a wall hanging, or a table runner... Hand sewing fabric you aren't crazy about isn't nearly as much fun as working with fabric you love. It's always okay to reconsider a project partway through!

I would put that one aside (far, far aside) and make one with beautiful fabric that will inspire you to finish! I machine piece (Brother machines are very reasonable and good quality) and I then hand quilt.

Hi Angelica, welcome, you have heard all the best advice already!
I also like to do everything from scratch, cooking, growing stuff in the garden TO cook, etc. I like to make things with my own 2 hands.
I am new to quilting too and taking a class; I started my first quilt last September, and still working on the top. When I get done I plan to hand-quilt it as well, whatever it takes.
For whatever my second quilt will be, I am going to try the Quilt As You Go Method (QAYG) where the blocks/rows or columns are quilted in small sections then assembled. I have older mechanical machines, non-computerized - because I am into heavy metal (joke!) - and I'm not clear on how I would manipulate a bed-sized quilt back and forth and still have it come out OK. Maybe when I become more proficient.

Forgot to say, for myself, I need a couple different projects going at once for when I need to take a break or get frustrated or bored. So don't worry, it IS up to you.

I have around 20 UFO's and some day they will get done.

Welcome to the Board! Sorry health issues entered into your lives, but glad things are on the uphill.

Don't worry about setting something aside--I always have more than one project in progress (although some are in a lot less progress at any one time!).

My first quilt took about 2 years for a wallhanging--machine pieced, hand quilted. I would recommend that you get a machined--think you will be amazed how much you enjoy having it,not just for quilts. You can get a $90 Brother at Walmart--no frills, but it will sew fine. I had one that I even was able to Free Motion Quilt with--came with hopping foot, could drop the feed dogs, etc. Take a couple of classes to learn how to use a machine and fly!

A friend that teaches beginner classes with me always says, if you don't love the fabric, don't use it! you'll never get finished!

It took me 15 years to finish the first large quilt I started LOL
I did many quilts in between the beginning and end of that one. I have many quilts in progress at any given time.

Kudos to you for doing hand piecing and hand quilting. I've only done machine piecing until recently I started some hand piecing.

Also, there's nothing wrong with never finishing that first one. I once saw Eleanor Burns on a TV show with her first quilt. She had never finished it! Here is a woman famous in the quilt world with a quilt unfinished from 30 years earlier!