I recently did a class at a LQS and I learned several tips. We actually used a pattern that had several different ways to do the blocks. Although the pattern was nice, one would not really need it. First you need to decide what size blocks you are going to want. My finished blocks are all 16 1/2 inches. I am using my daughters sorority tee-shirts. I cut our several different sizes of template plastic...made it easy to lay on the tee shirts and and find just the parts I wanted to use. After you have cut the area of the shirt out, then I fused lightweight fusible interfacing (for knit fabrics) on the back side. Then I added borders around the tee shirt until my block was 16 1/2 inches.