>>179579Don't cheap out on materials quality for your final product. Good thread + good fabric + careful sealing = dry sleeping. If you're new to sewing, get some cheaper fabric with a similar weight/texture and practice a few times with that making simple gear (stuff sacks, tote bags, etc.) then move into the more complex stuff. A tarp is pretty basic, a jacket a bit more advanced. Once you get the hang of different materials and how to cut/sew them, the world is really your oyster. You'll start going to gear stores just to get ideas for your next project.
This is a good place to get started. Resist the temptation to order all his books right away, many of them can be found at your local library:
http://www.rayjardine.com/papers/sewing-tips/index.htmAnd these guys sell decent fabrics in the US and Canada:
http://www.owfinc.com/fabrics.html 