Need Help in advancing my knowledge base

Hi
I have been working for almost 6 years. I can do projects fine. But, when it comes to optimization and refactoring, I know next to nothing. I don't know how to use design patterns. I don't know how to write tests.
So, my question is what can I do to improve my knowledge base. What resources to use? What book to read? What design pattern to follow? How to think smart? How to write less but get big results?
I have done some ecommerce, crm, cms, school mgmt system, internal messaging system, reward point system, gym mgmt system and some minor dynamic project and some static sites.
But I am not happy with what I did with many of them. I think that many of them could have become better, if i just know how to make them run faster and smoothly.
Thanks in advance.