I've sewn for years, I always cut notches out. How I mark the fabric depends on the fabric and what I'm marking.. Most of the time I make tailor's tacks you take a couple of little stitches (I use and x) and leave loops, then when I take the pieces apart to stitch (like on darts) I snip between the layers and both are marked. I always pin pattern to fabric because when you move the fabric to cut it, the bottom layer can shift and then your cutting will not be accurate if they are not secured together. If you're wanting to start sewing as a regular thing, clothes wise, I would get the basic sewing book by Vogue. I'm sure you could pick one up at a 2nd hand book store. Their directions are excellent and timeless.