I didn't use anything like that. Just cut strips of various widths and laid them on my 12" square then sewed them and then trimmed to 12" and sew together into strips. It was fun and easy, but I'm paying now for my instant gratification since I have these enormous strips to hand quilt. Am on the last one and when that is done it's just to sew to the other 2 already sewed together and bind it off. Hopefully I will reconcile myself to this thing in time. Who knows, I may even like it in time!