I teach sewing, along with quilting. The hardest part of sewing, I agree, is the fitting. Sometimes patterns are unnecessarily hard, I think. If I'm working with a pattern I haven't made before, what I do is to make the major pieces (bodice front & back WITH darts), skirt, etc., without any finishings (pockets, zippers, collars, closures, facings) out of muslin just to see what the fitting issues are. I always do this when making bridesmaid dresses and/or wedding dresses. It's easier to find out whether it's going to fit or not at that point, before involving expensive fabric.