Originally Posted by GingerK
Get out the graph paper and draw it out as a finished 6" block. Then measure the individual pieces and add your 1/4" seam allowances. Over the years I have found that true quarter inch graph paper is my best friend in the sewing room--well that and my seam ripper!
I LOVE graph paper.
There is something about drawing the lines in oneself that is very enlightening. (Enlightening isn't exactly the word I want, but it's the best one I can come up with at the moment)
Make sure your graph paper is "true" - some of them are off a little bit. Take any ruler and put it on top of the paper in both directions. The paper I'm using now lines up exactly with my ruler in the vertical direction - over an 8 inch width in the horizontal direction, it's accumulated about 1/16 inch variance.