One of our guild members is Nancy Elliot McDonald. She wrote a book about Winding Ways. For a long time she would come to sew and show with a wagon full of quilts. "Oh this is winding ways #82 and 83 and here is how they are different" - then she did an amazing array of other quilts. She's running around the 500 count at this point.
Tuesday was guild meeting and Nancy reported that she found this new concept "PANELS" and she loves them. So if Nancy can be successful with the relative simplicity of a panel, then you shouldn't beat yourself up for getting a kit. Just think of how much work has already been done for you.