Sorry to hear of your troubles. Here's the way I'm seeing the block: To the center square add a strip of 3 triangles to each side. Then add the two triangles to make the corners. The next row is triangles to each side, and then the corners for the block. I do agree your white may be a bit thin. If you are working with bias on your triangles that might be part of your battle. (I've read some advise using starch.) Sometimes the first block is the hardest and the rest come easier, I hope this is the case.