Lets start with tools. Few are needed to begin: needles, scissors, thread, cloth. Patterns for the the type of clothing I made are free, and easy to conceptually grasp. Only three stitches need to be learned: running stitch (weakest stitch, but good enough for shirts), backstitch (strongest stitch), and felling stitch (for making sure the cut edges of the cloth doesn't unravel).

The only remaining ingredient is time. I sew in the evening, to get me quieted down and ready for bed. With 20-40 minutes each night, it adds up quick. I can make a shirt in a week. Pants in 3 weeks. That darn jacket took a lot longer, but that's because I made up the pattern as I went.