The pinning helps you line up the fabric accurately before you cut. My biggest suggestions is to buy two cheap pieces of mirror 5X7 and using duck tape, tape them together along one long edge. Then you can audition your fabric. The "v" shape of the mirror moved along the fabric will give you an idea of what your blocks will look like. The larger the print with some but not much "blank" spots will give you the most variety of blocks. I always buy more of the focus fabric for the outside border, so you can show everyone, the basis for your quilt. Have fun with it, no quilt police around.