Hi Michael,
I hope you have joined some sort of a quilting guild or group.
If possible, find or make a new friend who has the Electric Quilt program. You can audition your colors and fabrics with it ... and ... it will print out the amount of yardage needed for whatever design & size quilt you want.
If you are really new to quilting, I think the easiest pattern is Rail Fence. You learn a lot and it is more forgiving in some ways.
Have Fun with it!