Welcome to this quilting talk show. We show and teach and learn.
First of all, starch and iron your fabric. Then cut. If your block ends do not match precisely, then shift them to the center of the joining block. Or else put sashing between them. Make an entire lap robe like that, I'll bet it will be eye catching. Have dramatic colors. Use whatever you have, old sheets, new materials, old cotton dresses or men's shirts. Our Grandmothers and Mothers used every thing that came in grabbing reach of their busy hands, and made lovely quilts with them. Then when you feel more in control of your sewing machine you can start on the fabulously intricate and lovely many pieced ones that are shown all the time on this forum.
From blocks then you can to to the Disappearing Nine Patch, and from there, anywhere you want to go.