Vincent Van Gogh Inspired A-Line Skirt

"Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh Skirt

I've always loved to do crafts, sew, etc. But when I'd sew, I would approximate the measurements and never follow any set instructions. So the passion I wanted to develop was learning how to sew using patterns. Patterns are paper instructions and life-size outlines of where to cut your fabric. Using patterns was terrifying because one slight mistake could ruin not only the specific piece of clothing you were trying to make, but it could also ruin all future attempts of trying to use that same pattern.
In the book, "Dressmaking: The complete step-by-step guide to making your own clothes" by Alison Smith, you are provided detailed lessons on how to make a wide range of garments, how to alter them, and basic sewing knowledge. I chose to make an A-Line Skirt, and the instructions were on pages 132-135. On step 1, you are instructed to, "Cut out the fabric and mark the start of the darts with tailor's bastes" (Smith 134). I had no idea how to do a dart (which is basically taking in the skirt at different points in order to contour it to the body), so I looked at the cross-reference provided to learn how to create a dart step-by-step (Smith 91). After a few hours, I understood the instructions and carried the assignment out successfully, as you can see in the above picture of my finished skirt.
This book is extremely helpful in teaching ANYONE how to sew. Just by reading a few pages, I was able to create a garment I never would have been able to create successfully before. I was able to cut out the fabric using a pattern, insert a zipper, create a buttonhole/sew on a button, and sew a waistband. All of those things I had never accomplished before, so this book has helped me tremendously.
Why is the chance of failure such a determent to us trying something new?