I have 2 young girls, 6 and 1. I'd love to be able to make them clothes and costumes as and when I can. The problem is a) I'm not all that creative, and b) I'm a big, clumsy oaf. Despite this, I want to do this for them. I want to be able to create things for them, for Halloween, for parties, whatever.

I do not know where to even begin. I know how to sew up holes in clothes (badly, but they seem to stick) from years of being poor and single, but I want to be better. Where can I learn? If I want to create with a machine, what do I buy? What tools and accessories do I need?

Ideally, I'm looking for a Mrs Doubtfire figure to take me under her wing, nurture my obvious natural talent for fabrics, and release me out into the world, but I'll happily settle for a decent jumping off point.