I understand your uncertainty as a newer quilter and the lack of local shopping. Could I offer an alternative for you to consider? Go to Craftsy.com and sign up for their Free Block of the Month classes. There is one for 2012, one for 2013 and the one for 2014 will be available on January 5th. You can watch these over and over, they are yours forever, it is like having private instruction. Use your money to either order the fabrics they are using if you like them, or when you download the patterns and instructions you can see the required amount of fabric and shop online. There are many great online shops: Connecting Threads, Missouri Star Quilt Company, Hancocks of Paducah- 2 Florida shops I use: Judy Hansen's Quiltshopofdeland.com and happyapplequilts.com and many more. Do a search on the Board here "online shops" or shopping and you'll find many recommendations. The Craftsy classes suggest using the blocks for a sampler quilt, but I make them into pillows and only actually make the blocks that appeal to me. Happy Quilting and learning!