Sew by hand. It is the best way of learning the craft and after all that is how it started. Paper piecing is also good, especially if you are using fiddly or very small bits but if you start with simple shapes just hand sewing is fine.
I taught the hand method some years ago and if you want any help, please do not hesitate to PM me.
The look of a hand sewn and quilted quilt is different from a machine one and it takes considerably longer, but if output is not important the hand sewing imparts a kind of serenity to life. Something we often miss in our hurry, hurry and bustle world.