Welcome from Southern California! Sure wish we lived closer - I would have you come over and help you cut your fabric. A friend of mine was that way, she was always afraid to make the first cut, so she would come over, because I have a cutting table which is high enough to be comfortable and we would set up the fabric and she would cut it. Sounds to me you need a quilting buddy. Don't be afraid of making a mistake, we have all made plenty of them. The important part is having fun doing it.