Dizzy,
Both my grandmother's sewed, so I stood by their machines & watched for hours. They made clothes & quilts for the whole family. I took 3 yrs Home Ec. We had a great teacher & she showed us how to make adjustments to patterns. I agree with you that it's easier to make our own clothes if the ones in the store don't fit well. I'm 62 & my body parts have gone South with gravity (to a degree), so it's hard to find a pattern that fits me all over. LOL. I've learned to eye garments on the rack & come home, cut out my own garment & sew it up. I have some old patterns I use, just change them as fashions change. Latest fashions are hard to adjust because my middle is too full for the short jackets. Hate the blouses that come a few inches below jackets.