I also feel recomending to a "newcommer" to buy expensive fabrics must have come from the fabric manufacturers. Or someone in the fabric buying field. They get all their fabrics for free, so they don't have budgets like us real folks. After reading this thread, I would some up by saying buy what you like, that you can afford & start with smaller projects & work your way up. I also started with patterns that are more forgiving, like "wonky stars" and D9's. I also found investing in good rotary cutting tools & templates (like Fons & Porters) helped & keep changing the blades & the needles helped my projects go smoother & give me more confidence.