I just finished the Sue for Feb. and I didn't follow the pattern exactly. You can use 2 different colored pinks for the skin and make the boarders all the same. I have fun just doing my own thing with them as using the gioven pattern design as a model. For the March on I'm using shamrocks instead of basketballs-not a fan. I like the book and have made 3 of them doing my own thing. The biggest piece of fabric you need is for the dress so any scrap that fits works. Have fun with it-I'll be using something else instead of sailboats and the cutters for june. No quilt police will be looking so do it howevewr you want.