WOW I can't believe you're PPing by hand, that's got to be tuff! I really think you'd enjoy it quicker if you'd use your machine. I'm just like you on the not retaining what I thought I learned. When I started I would baste it by hand to be sure it was right, then sew it on the machine, then I would pin on the sewing line so I could flip and be sure it was big enough, then I really got the hang of it and just eyeballed it. Good luck, can't wait to see what you're making .