Do eeet! There's usually Community College or Evening College classes on the basics of sewing.

I was lucky enough that my Mum taught me the basics (she's an excellent seamstress, having learnt through bitter necessity in her youth) and I've taken quite a few risks and created rather nice things over the years.

I take it you saw the Theoden tunic I made my husband for a friend's Lord of the Rings wedding? I have a bolt of this dark blue raw silk, and have also made myself a muumuu with a Hawaiian theme, complete with volcanoes. I'll be using the same fabric for the trousers and top for the wedding.