Army lady, I know all about reading directions. One tip that I learned many years ago and really liked was to make a sample block of any pattern before you start cutting your good fabric. The neat thing I learned was to set aside some of your stash that coordinates and make all your sample/ trial blocks out of the same fabrics or similar colors and at some time in the future you collect enough blocks to make a sampler block quilt and all the blocks coordinate. That is one of the best planning and learning tips I have learned over the years.
I like that star pattern you are working on. The rich dark blues are wonderful.