I prefer the first way - I like to know how many I need without doing the math. Then if they want to give me a helpful tip like cut so many strips then subcut so many squares, I appreciate that. Sometimes I change the color distribution so knowing (without doing the math :-) ) helps me there. I,, too, write all over my patterns and then some! I keep a pad of paper on my sewing table so I can write down what I did different or maybe what I think I should do different next time. Those notes get put with the pattern when I'm done.