I believe in working on projects you like. You'll be more inclined to actually finish them. Jump in but do as most have suggested here and read carefully, sort carefully. Sticky notes and baggies are your faithful friends. Always cut your largest pieces first (and most instructions should tell you this). Label carefully. Check off each step as you complete it - be it cutting something or sewing something. You'll get interrupted and this is the easiest way to find where you left off.
Just about all of my 'hobbies' are self taught. When I was teaching myself to knit I found a pattern I liked, bought the yarn and sat down to work. It was then I noticed the instructions said 'for experienced knitters only'. After reading the pattern and some basic instructions a few more times I came to the conclusion the only reason you needed to be experienced was in order to read the instructions. Re-wrote things to make sense for me and away I went. Beautiful, hooded, pocketed 'fisherman' sweater later I was happy. So, make what you like. You'll be happy you did.