regarding the "pattern"
well, I used the boston block idea & half square and made the look of a star.. I think I had seen that somewhere online called the "friendship star" so I call it the friendship star. I follow the pattern on my wall now for this one...
When I make a block that I really I like... I just hang it on my wall and use it for my pattern. I have the measurement chart for sizing etc... I guess this is maybe silly to some but it works for me so far. I like to be creative... when I get the whole quilting thing down a little better then I will start using patterns I guess.
I just look at a block I find online, print it out and study it and then try to make it... seems to work out pretty well. I use the calculator a lot lol. And, I use this calculator too>
http://search.quiltshops.com/calculator/calculator.htm