I don't know if anyone else has already though of this but being nearer 70 than 60 years old I was pretty happy that my brain still likes to work!
Rather than constructing at least 4 trial squares to see how the quilt pattern will look once they are put together.. sew one then photo copy it (in color preferably) at least three times and tape them together. I now know exactly how my ribbon square quilt will look when finished. Memo to self.... need to refill the paper drawer in the copier!!