A lot of skill just comes from practice, there are reasons to start on pretty easy patterns and work your way up. A jellyroll race or other projects gives you lots of what I call driving lessons. You can do it alone, but it is more fun/easier when you have people to ask questions. Coming from garment sewing (pre-sergers) the 1/4" seam used as a standard in quilting seemed tiny to me, but you get used to it. You do have an advantage in already having some understanding in sewing in general. Cotton fabrics are pretty easy to work with.
I've used vintage machines for a lot of years, most of them are sturdy workhorses that do a good solid straight stitch and maybe a few other things and that's what you need for sewing.
BTW, many years ago, I lived in one of the "other" Moscows -- Idaho version.