Garment making can be such fun or it can be a nightmare ... it all depends on knowledge and lots of it. If you have no one to actually show & tell & help, here's something you might be interested in:
1. Go to Nancy's Notions on-line catalog.
2. Click on Sewing With Nancy (top right)
3. Click on current T.V. episodes (far left)
4. Click on Pattern Fitting w/Confidence
She has a book & DVD combo for sale (on sale for $17.99, normally $27.98). That's a bit pricey (& I'm a cheapskate) plus there is no doubt shipping & handling to pay. But there is also an 8+ minute demo. video that you can look at. Nancy is nothing if not thorough; she explains everything, both on DVD and on paper, very clearly. From what I could see from the demo. the book has excellent illustrations.