Hi Lin:
If you look at the picture the triangle that goes on each side of the 4 patch is 6 inches by 9 3/4 inches. My friend gave me the pattern and this is how she showed me to do it. I suppose you could do the rectangles and do it your way but just make sure your measurements are 6 x 9 3/4 when you get ready to sew them to the 4 patch. JUST REMEMBER, each of those triangles are going a different direction and when I made this one I cut out EXTRA pieces ...(only God is perfect :lol: ) And yes, you do leave the START triangle flapping on the first side of the 4 patch and then sew the seam the rest of the way at the end. Good luck and make sure to post pictures. My friend made this up in muted greens and forest greens and I cannot tell you how gorgeous it was. I wish I had had my camera that day so I had a picture. She made it for a donation of some kind so can't go back and shoot it. It's a gorgeous block made up.
Good luck! After looking at your "braid" quilt, you won't have any trouble with this.
Feathers