I am strickly a "self taught" quilter. Never taken a class. It was all trial and error for me. I have only made one quilt in 15 years from pattern. I usually pick a block style i want to try and go from there. I design the quilt top in my head and start cutting. The only problem i have is when doing it this way, i always end up with a lot of left over fabric because i always over buy. At least that gives me quite a bit of scraps for other smaller quilts.
It was very hard for me to actually do a complete quilt from a book pattern. I was stresed over cutting wrong or sewing wrong and running out of the alotted fabric pieces. I guess i just like the freedom of doing it any way i want. Is that a bad thing to you accomplished quilters?