I, too, started making my own clothes when I was 14. From there, I made all of mine, my 4 kids, some for DH and DGS's. Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard. The pattern absolutly does make a difference. For myself, I prefer Simplicity patterns. I think they are a lot clearer in their directions. My advice would be to start with something simple, like a skirt, lounge pants, or maybe a simple jumper. Then move on to more complicated things as you gain confidence.