There are no quilting police! You get to choose your colors, your patterns, border, etc. You will find which ones you prefer and you will get better with your points and layout as you make more tops. BUT - you do need to work on doing 1/4" seams. If you do not do these correctly, they will cause you fits forever! Just a tiny bit off adds up across the row. As for other things like stretching and pulling, you will learn. If you can join a group, you will learn an awful lot in a short time. But, word of caution, if you visit a group and do not feel like you fit in - LEAVE. Keep looking until you find one that you gel with and they will be the most valuable tool you can get. HAVE FUN!!! and WELCOME!!!!