Anne - you can learn anything that you set your mind to!! If you think you will fail, chances are you will become a self-fulfilling prophecy!!!
I started out making clothes, mainly one-seam skirts and wraps for my Barbie dolls, then my parents actually let me get up to the sewing machine. Mother still has that machine, and I now have several (not as many as Kate, however!). My first love will *always* be sewing clothes, simply because I've always been able to look at a fabric and see how it would work up into a blouse, or a suit, or even a dress. When it comes to making quilts, I tend to get all fluster-pated trying to get the right mix of colors so that they don't look too washed out or too "these really don't work well with each other"....I always seem to have those problems.
Right now, I'm taking a break on hubby's Mariner's Compass quilts (regular and mini - they are both at nearly the same stage of completion for some reason) and working on some camp shirts for both of my children. They will be attending Vacation Bible School this summer, and the theme is Outrigger Adventure or something like that. So, I decided to make them so-called Hawai'ian shirts. DD, of course, will have mostly pink - 2 I think (with 1 blue to make me happy). DS picked out his fabrics when I ran to TSWLTH before his doc appointment
- he picked out a novelty print that is like a pirate's treasure map and a black with Asian characters on it, plus he has a blue batik for me to stitch up. I have 2 fabrics to make myself a couple of shirts since I'm on staff as a crafts and kitchen helper (better to keep my son away from foods that he is allergic to). And the great thing is that they are having a Luau on the last day!!
I also just finished up a lovely turquoise knit dress for myself. Had been putting it off and decided it was time to try and tackle it. People *still* can't believe that I made it, even though nearly everyone knows that I sew!! Only thing I would change would be to make the bodice bits a little bit longer as the pattern doesn't really take into consideration larger busted women . I pretty much make most of my children's clothing unless my mother buys them things or we get hand me downs from friends. SInce both of them are so skinny, it's just easier for me to make it from scratch than to try and take out a lot of machine stitching.
Anyway, listen to Kate, find some good resource websites and books, and dive right in!!
Larisa