It really does seem to take a long time to get your fabric ready for constructing your blocks, etc. BUT.....it is definitely worth the time and effort. The WORST is constructing the quilt and finding out the the measurements, etc. are wrong. It's nice to know that when you sit down at the machine everything will go together as planned.
Another...."been there, done that" as a new/unexperienced quilter. NOT a good experience.