Honestly, I'm self taught and I find it very hard and irritating to follow a pattern. Seems like every time I try I end up with my 12" block measuring up at 8"s. I just got done with one that was a pattern and I had to remake my sample block 3 times and change all the sizes of the pieces to get it to a 12" block! Don't they add the 1/4 inch seam allowance to the piece measurements? It's frustrating, I was offered to do a block of the month and I backed out, not because I didn't want to play but because I knew it wouldn't turn out right. It's down right embarrassing.