Cas - this thread could have been written by me today! Everything you said was my experience. Except one thing. I haven't sewn clothes for 25 years. My daughter challenged me to buy a pdf pattern and make a dress for my gd. Never bought a pdf pattern before and that was the easiest and quickest part. The 5/8 seam, the glue, the rotary cutter and rulers, the decorative stitches - it came back and it was easier with the quilting skills. I ripped out a few buttons holes too. It was a fun day. My story too.