You Learn Something New

Have you heard?  We are redecorating our entire house master bedroom and bathroom.  One of the big components of this project is new drapes for both rooms.  I searched and searched for some pre-made ones that I loved and I just couldn't find any.  So, I decided to make my own.
Sure says the girl who hasn't sewn a thing (including buttons!) since her 8th grade home economics class.  My mother in law is an expert seamstress so I am sure I will be getting a lot of tips from her...oh, and using her machine under a close watch (for every one's safety) until I feel like I am going to sew enough to buy one.  I want some secondary resources though for when she isn't around and I may need to sew something.
I found an amazing tutorial on how to make my own curtains over on House of Hepworths but, of course, a key component of that is to know how to actually sew.  I need something like Sewing For Dummies.
I went online and did some research.  I found a couple of other recommended books to go along with all of my Internet reading.

I hope the UPS man likes delivering books!
Any good sewing books you recommend?  Any tips you have to offer?  Help a sewing newbie out!