I learned to sew from my mom and in 4-H when I was a kid. Then I made my first quilt. I cut all the pieces using cardboard templates (just scraps, 5" squares around 4 big machine appliqued blocks with fish) and started sewing them together, using a 1/4" seam because my mom told me that's what you used in quilting (otherwise I'd have made it 5/8"). She walked me through backing and tying it, then binding by bringing the back to the front.
My next quilt, I wasn't at nearby my mom anymore, so I used books from the library and occasional advice from a woman at church.
I'd say most specific techniques I learn from books and the internet, anymore.
I think a good beginner quilt is just plain squares, get a couple of charm packs from fabric lines you like and sew them in 4 patches and then into rows, sew the rows together to make the top.