Thanks all for the clapping and kind words! I wasn't seriously considering giving up making quilts. It's too much fun. I just wanted to share my latest near-disaster with you and figured most of you had "been there, done that". And also, this was actually my first quilt math problem ... because it was the first time I bought pre-cut strips. I never even knew I had a problem until I cut and "constructed" the braids; I had been so sure that I had enough fabric that it came as quite a little shock to me to discover my big oopsy. I'm surely glad I didn't wait any longer to start quilt construction or all that particular Bali Pop "flavor" would have been absolutely gone. It was a close call ... I had to retrieve its wrapper from the trashcan because I couldn't remember the name of it. When I typed in the name and hit "Search" almost everybody who listed it had none in stock and had no plans of getting any more.
I just read in another thread where folks are having problems with the 2-1/2" Bali Pop accuracy. I've only had one "dip" along one edge so far. But, FYI, the Chai Tea strips that I bought for the neutral element in the FB quilt are really poorly cut ... they even have the dreaded "V" at the fold line.