The members of the board did help me figure it out, and you can be sure I changed the measurement everywhere it appeared in the instructions -- it took me longer to cut them down than it did to sew them in the first place!

there is an online quilting store that sells a set of rulers that automatically figure the additional amount to cut on half square triangles and quarter square triangles. You just set your ruler up with the correct set of triangles you want to make and cut the triangles the exact measurement you want. The ruler adds the additional inches you need for the finished product. I've included the link. My squares come out perfect every time.
http://www.guidelines4quilting.com/

The pattern says it is a 13 inch finished block, which would have driven me bonkers from the get go LOL , but it does make the 7 inch square part make sense.