start with purchasing the 'Storm at Sea' book- that will help you calculate yardage- then do a 'practice block' ... you may decide to table this project for a while. not meaning to be 'negative' but Storm at Sea is a challenging project- for someone stating they are new to piecing it may be best to start with something not quite so 'advanced' . make a practice block with some scrap fabrics...if it goes together well & you decide you do like the process- then by all means jump in there & purchase the fabrics needed for your quilt.