yes, they are 2 1/2 inch squares and it had to be pre-planned, usually I just wing it with colours (so far the colour choosing is the hardest for me & doesn't seem to be getting any easier, I wander around & then give up & leave). I also don't have a real stash yet, either and can't figure out how to go about that, either! Lots of learning to do with this hobby/addiction but learning better from this forum than any books I've read yet! So, again, thanks and I will be picking everybody's brain for a long while yet!