Welcome from Michigan. Not to worry, no one will laugh at you. This quilting journey is a great one, and it is a journey. You may want to start out simple, but then the bug will hit you. Everyone on here are very anxious to help and have some wonderful tips. All the sites recommended are a good start. Keep us posted.
Sue

dont be so hard on yourself if you can sew upholstry fabric you can make a quilt your one up on me i couldnt thread my sewing machine when i started and a rag quilt is perfect for your attempt cause if you use thicker fabric batting isnt necessisary. and its a perfect way to use up scraps too ive seen some beautiful denim rag quilts and flannel and fleece works too. and theres tons of videos on utube to show you how. this place is a goldmine for getting advice so dont hesitate to ask questions. pls do let us see your quilt youll be surprised at how well it turns out.
carla

My only recommendation that hasn't been presented earlier is to piece the top and use a solid piece for the back. It is easier to quilt through (fewer seams). It is also very traditional to tie the layers together with embroidery floss or yarn. I use vintage machines to piece most of my projects, and you should have no problem with that. The act of quilting can be a bit complicated on any home machine, vintage or not, just because of the size and bulk. Try a lap size first instead of a regular bed sized quilt to get the process down.

Pam

Here's a site where a woman made a quilt from military fatigues.

http://mamakamills.blogspot.com/2009...made-from.html

Welcome to the board. Looks like you've got a lot of good info. We're always here for help and moral support.