I always make a copy of my pattern before I start it. Then I carefully read through it and highlight important info so I don't make stupid mistakes such as cutting strips 2 inches, not 3 inches. If there are lots of color changes I snip off a piece of each fabric and tape or staple it to a sheet of paper with notes of where it will go. I also put a note on the cut pieces so I know where it goes in this block or that. Finally I make one of each block so I am clear as to what I intended. Yes this does take a while, but it eliminates costly dumb mistakes like the one I made on an expensive kit. I couldn't get more of the focus fabric in that case and wasted yards of fabric. When I do this I can leave the project for a few days or weeks and easily pick up where I left off too.