Beth,
Patterns are different, usually no tissue paper involved. If you look at quilterscache or McCall's quick quilts online you can see that most will give the measurements for blocks, rectangles, etc to be sewn together to form the block.
The patterns (instructions) will take you through making the block step by step.
Take a look at some of the quilt magazines in the stores.
Applique blocks are printed on regular paper. I find many that have to be resized and that is really frustrating for me.
Look at the tutorial section here, there are some quilt patterns.