I am cutting my 1st quilt tonight. Like you I didn't know where to start. I have a family occasion coming up, I picked a pattern & material for that. Even though I sewed extensively, it was 30yrs ago. This is so different! because of a surgery, my right hand is numb & weak, so I couldn,t feel the ruler thing moving. My 1st cuts look like I was drunk.LOL. I decided to use a marking pencil on the wrong side of the fabric to help me keep straight, it worked! The point is , you don't have to be conventional. You have to laugh @ yourself & HAVE FUN. You didn,t ride a bike the !st time you got on, & didn,t read the 1st book you held. It,s a new skill have fun .Do it for you! LUV D