I requested a brand new sewing machine for a holiday, and my mom (how is it that she always has that kind of money right when I ask for the truly expensive things that I will use forever??) bought me one. She also bought me my bicycle. <3
My machine is electronic, with a TON of fancy stitches and basic monogramming, which I love. When my dog had serious allergies, his overalls got his name and my phone number on them. My new clothes have "Made by Froggy" somewhere on the hem instead of having tags. The machine is Brother and was advertised as a Project Runway top pick or something. As sewing machiens go, it was the super-cheapo Walmart model, but still over a hundred dollars. It came with preser feet, extra needles, and more importantly- a user manual.
I've learned to do blind hems, french seams (no raw edge- its enclosed), and other things. I LOVE the needle threader, and the top-load plastic bobbin. It is so easy to see how much thread is left through the clear window that I usually don't sew too far without realizing that my thread has run out, because I knew it was getting low, and just being able to drop in the new full bobbin is a life-saver! My old machine involved about a billion parts that had to be held just so and then finagled into place to install the bobbin. THEN you had to pray there wasn't a thread jam, because the tension was never right. My new machine has ZERO of those problems. Plus my new machine is VERY lightweight. I used to take it to work when I was stuck there all day so that I could sew in a deep windowsill. My old machine required two hands to pick up and it was a chore.
I also shop for fabric at JoAnn, or now Hancock here locally. They accept JoAnn coupons, so I see no real difference. I always wait until there is a big sale, and go with a "#% off total purchase" coupon to get even better savings off the discounted items. I have not bought a pattern for over $0.99 because I too wait for those sales.
I have one much-used book to show me all kinds of tips and tricks, plus stuff I've never heard of trying to do, and that book is Simply The Best Sewing Book. As you might guess, it is written by the Simplicity pattern company, and I think my version is now outdated. It goes into detail about pattern sizing, how to measure, how to attach sleeves and zippers and all kinds of other things. I routinely open it up and flip to particular sections to remind myself how to do something. It was that book that told me to try using pattern tissue or paper as a stabilizer to keep the feed dogs (those metal feet that move your fabric) from eating my sheer lightweight fabric and causing a jam, and to use nice pretty french seams for sheer see-though fabric.
I taught myself how to sew, pretty much, after an adult showed me how to press the pedal to make the machine go. I've made my own clothes by following the directions in patterns. I started with doll clothes and very primitive clothing designs.
I admit my first pair of pants is absolutely AMAZING. I only wish that the material I had been given was actually pre-washed as we thought it was. They shrank a little :( I used the Amazing Fit pattern from Simplicity, and it tells you exactly how to put in that complicated zipper fly that all pants have, my pockets are fantastic, and those might be the most comfortable pants I own now. I plan on adding a fake cuff to regain the length, and maybe let out the waist a bit to compensate for shrinkage. My next pair will not have such a high waist either. (Your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, usually much higher than your belly button. If you aren't sure exactly where that is on a straighter shape, bend sideways- the crease that forms is usually at your waistline. Pants nowadays usually ride a bit lower, and I think they are more comfortable slightly below the belly-button.)
I can tell you that denim is completely sewable, even on new finicky machines, if you are careful when doing the thick sections. I usually stop pressing the pedal and carefully turn the wheel by hand to be sure the needle gets through everything alright without being deflected by the thickness. Jeans can look professionally made too: you can buy proper jean-buttons, and even the little rivets for pocket joints and such if you want, but those tend to be the most expensive parts. Frankly, I'm more likely to have jeans with brightly-threaded stitching, and proclaim in my bright monogramming "MADE BY FROGGY" on the hem or waist so everybody knows they were handmade jeans!