I got kicked out of Home Ec. Told the teacher my mother did it better.
I do use patterns, but only as road maps. I have books on changing things and drafting software. If whatever garment one of the family wants doesn't have a pattern, I buy a basic and hit the software for the changes.
I actually caught some nasties from a designer when I mentioned in a forum that I took out the dratted shoulder pads.
She designed it EXPLICITLY with the pads and was incensed that anyone would think differently. I'm not selling the changes, I'm only doing them for MY family which is legal.
Same with quilting. I will work out changes in a pattern with Electric Quilt and do it my way.