Help me to start sewing - advice & tips needed!

[PinkyDink]

I have just acquired a sewing machine, but having never made anything before what is a good project to start with? Am I mad trying to teach myself to sew?

I want to (eventually) make quilts for the kids beds and some Xmas stockings.

All advice, tips etc. would be very much appreciated!!

I started with an apron (I figured that couldn't go too wrong), then fixing trouser hems, and modifying skirts/tops. Soon (I have bought a pattern and intend to use it!) I'll be making a skirt from scratch.

I started with a cushion cover, i bought some fabric and a cushion pad from Ikea. Just made it out of one piece of fabric with buttons at the back - giving you chance to try out your automatic button hole thingy if you've got one, maybe a bit tricky without one.

I've also made a children's puppet theatre type thing which hangs across a doorway on a net curtain wire, that was really easy, just involved sewing straight lines. Bunting is also really easy, particularly if you cut triangles with pinking shears, but you could hem them for extra practice.

christmas stockings should be easy.

get one piece of coloured fabric, fold it in hald and make a L shape (with the long part down the fold)
it depends how big you want your stocking, but remember that you'll need to factor in at least a 1cm seam allowance. if you want it 30cm wide, then make your "leg" part 31cm from the fold.
then sew it right sides together round all sides apart from the fold and the top! turn it the right way in.
measure the width of the top.
then cut in a contrasting fabric a rectangle that is twice that + 2cm (because you'll fold it over).
fold it and sew the raw edges together.

then put the right side of the Lshape inside the rectangle (which should still be inside out).
sew the line where they join (remember you're making a circle)
when you turn the flap up, if should look like a stocking.

andsew a loop of fabric just inside the flap at the top. (but you guessed that bit!)

My top tip:

Measure twice, cut once.

Search online for tutorials and free patterns to sew things, you needent waste money buying patterns for simple things.

Cushion covers are very easy, as are simple shopping bags.

Thank you for your tips, am feeling a little bit more confident

overmydeadbody - always measure 3 times - the second time to check that i measured right the first time and the third just to make sure! (yes, i do mess it up rather frequently!)
and