The 50 Fabulous Stars is a great CD, easy to use with multiple size options.
You don't need the book - there are plenty of sites from which to learn paper-piecing.
I loved working with it.
The 400+ collection contain all kinds of pictorial and geometric patterns.
Depends on your design aesthetic.
I don't think I even loaded it up when I got my new laptop.
And it's been here for years. Well, somewhere here.
I don't remember if I ever bought the 40 Designs.
I know I have the book (and I've never done anything from it yet either).
Personally - just MHO - I think the stars are versatile enough for any occasion.
At the end of the day, it's all about the fabric selection and setting anyway.
And there is often a little learning curve for first-timers (mine was more of 180 degree curve) so it really doesn't matter which you choose for first pattern.
Mine was a 32 ray Mariner's Compass - one of many not brilliant decisions I made.
But once you get the hang of it, and I'm sure you will, it's a great method - and very useful.
Then you can look into many of the different methods available to use for various applications.
Good luck.
Last edited by MTS; 10-05-2012 at 07:44 PM.