Based on my experience of teaching lots of people how to use and make the most of a domestic overlocker.  I recommend strongly, very strongly -

-  choose and invest in an overlocker that has a bigger more powerful motor than the economy level model whichever the brand.  That means look to the upper end of the mid-range offerings.  More money but worth the investment to get sufficient power to drive the feed dogs, cutting knife and needle punching whether sewing heavier fabrics, layers or lightweights. 
Economy models are assembled down to a price point and have small motors so are intended and designed only for lightweight fabrics.  If that is all it will ever be used for (no thicker fabrics or tougher layers) then there is a case for getting one, flog it to death and then replace it with another. 
My experience has shown me that users have more issues with economy models and often have to learn extensive trouble shooting skills to coax and nurse a consistently reliable and acceptable stitch from their machines.  It can be dispiriting and often puts people off. However, if you know how to achieve what you want with an overlocker, then you can boss these models to sew, even if it's not exactly a pleasure to use.

- avoid models where you have to open out the front of the table or a door to engage or disengage the cutting knife. 
When overlocking in the round, it's an utter PITA to have to avoid trapping the fabric when closing the foot or front of the machine to continue stitching after disengaging the knife.  Much simpler and much quicker to turn a knob or push a button or lever or twist your a vertical knife up or down.   

-  avoid models where you have to change needle plates, or change out stitch fingers to be able to sew different widths of overlocking stitches. 

Brands - Juki  Juki, Juki, for value/performance.
Then Babylock and Bernina although both are ridiculously expensive in the UK for what you actually get. 
Then higher end Janome/Elna models and higher end Brother models. 

Some of their patterns are far from beginner friendly but they have marked a selection of simpler patterns though I can see one or two that could be disappointing with no experience in fitting (but good for learning)
https://maison-fauve.co.uk/collections/beginner

I'm always looking out for useful resources, guided demonstrations and tutorials for the people I teach, particularly those in a couple of community groups I assist who manage their own learning and mostly teach themselves.  It's about 70/30 for those who are happy to follow books and written instructions (70) and those who need Demos/Videos (30).

Until 7 Nov, Stuart Anderson has offered half price Access all Areas at Pattern School Online.
 This offer means 12 Months access to all the Tutorials, Pattern Making Lessons  and other resources for approx £30 ($37.50 USD) instead of the usual $75 USD.

* Pattern Making for Stretch fabrics, has some additional considerations to pattern making for wovens .

The coupon offer code is Pattern School.
https://www.patternschool.online/support

For these teal pieces  . .  .  I don't think the polyester shirt and trousers will live with me long (I don't like the fabric really) and the turquoise set have already been relegated to PJs.

The teal stuff mostly doesn't work in the wardrobe concept because they are all slightly different shades so don't look great together, so I am going to need the print pieces and the dark brown (and made some cream) to make it more wearable.

I love that you posted about not all plans working out as well as imagined when setting out on the journey.  Sharing about pausing to review how things are going and choosing to stop or change direction can be helpful and reassuring to less experienced stitchers. 
At the end of last year and the start of 2023 I went through a 6 month spell of mild disappointment with most of the items I made.
 I was testing several new to me patterns and sewing them from the fabric stash. ( I've been going through a bit of a styles shift as I revamp the wardrobe.)

 All the items made up just fine, yet there was something 'off' with all but 3 of them which have made it into the wardrobe.   Only one top was a failure and binned before spending any more time on finishing it.  The silver lining was learning what I liked and didn't about the new patterns and the fabrics I'd prefer to use next time.
I've gifted 4  items to friends and 3 I've decided to pass on will go to the charity shop. 

This article highlights some of the main Fashion Design software packages around. 
Some offer 2 and 3D modelling and some also include pattern generation modules. 
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cadcrowd.com/blog/what-is-the-best-clothing-design-software-for-3d-rendering-modeling-apparel/amp/

The packages I've heard most about recently for pattern making/pattern generation are Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, CLo3D and TailorNova.
CLo3D and TailorNova use a subscription business model. 

Now these programmes in themselves are intended as tools for the fashion industry and patternmakers.  As tools what can be done with them to illustrate a design and produce a 3D model is amazing. 
They're not substitutes for a lack of pattern making skills and education.

 However increasingly, there are reports appearing about  some so called 'independent designers' using these types of programmes to produce sewing patterns for sale that turn out to be untested and downright 'bad' or wrong as in poorly drafted.  Copying someone else's design, generating a pattern and then selling on Etsy or another platform can be done easily now by unscrupulous sellers but, without an understanding of patternmaking, sewing know how or actual testing,  errors become more common.  Errors are compounded when these people copy already bad copies of patterns. 
The copyright infringement and ethical issues are a different aspect this growing problem.

Perhaps best to support only the independent designers who encourage their customers to let them know about any issues or glitches they have with the designer's patterns. 

Two sides of the digital pattern making coin. 

Oh I would have loved to go to this 
Sadly it will not happen so I will just carry on looking at stuff on the internet and hoping that one day I will be able to do something more than an hour away from home!

Frustrating isn't it   

They offer Live virtual tours with commentary via zoom for this event.  Tickets for the Lives are here.
https://shop.theschoolofhistoricaldress.org.uk/events/?v=79cba1185463

Not quite the same as attending in person but maybe better than not at all.

Coat is just about finished . . . Buttons I like are £1 each and i need 5, that nearly as much as the coat fabric cost.

I get it - although I've made some things because of the buttons - like the carved buttons on this unlined coat. https://pin.it/wyTWtTx
 The ridged ponte fabric at £2 per metre was very inexpensive.  Wore the coat until it was past shabby and now the harvested buttons are waiting to become their next project.