Especially if I made or altered the pattern using EQ8 I test out my calculations with one block before I cut the rest of the my fabrics. Rather have one incorrect block than all of them. I remember before I even knew anything how to make a quilt back in the early 90's. I designed a quilt, cut all the pieces and then try to assemble them. Found out I didn't take into consideration the seam allowances, angles for triangles, etc. It was an utter mess. I threw it all away and didn't try to make another quilt.

Of course now things have changed, I've gotten a bit of education on how patterns are made and assembled. Have come a long ways since that 1st attempt....................and so glad I did.

If a quilt is going to have red in it I will wash the red fabrics first. If it is flannel I will was it for shrinkage first. Most others I do not pre-wash unless requested. I will do a test block and I save those test block for a quilt in the future that will be made of all those blocks trimmed up. I have only had one failure on a quilt where the fabrics fail totally. That was a recently made baby quilt. That made be a bit gun shy for a bit but now I am back on a roll.

A test block need not be made out of the precious fabric you plan to use for the quilt! The older I get the more "samples" I make!! And paper piecing with freezer paper works wonders!
(I did not mean more samples for the block! )

I often use the same author of patterns because I know they are reputable and make sure the pattern has been tried and true. But, like so many before me I have used patterns that are less than accurate and had to be a problem solver to finish the top.
It seems now I can look at the pattern directions and think to myself, "Something is wrong with those numbers." That is when I do a trial to make sure. At the very least do the numbers in my head and see if they are right before cutting all of the blocks.

I always make a sample block-especially the one I am making now. I am using a Creative Grid pineapple block ruler and it was very confusing to me. I watched tutorials and tried making a block a couple of times but could not get it in my head how to trim. Eventually I understood and now I am enjoying making the blocks. I also never cut out fabrics for a whole quilt. I usually cut fabric for about 3 or 4 blocks and make them and then cut more fabric.
This is how I make cookies from a new recipe too-I make the dough and bake one cookie to see how it turns out or if I need to add something!!

Me too! I will make a sample block when I'm making shop samples. Sometimes it will show me that I'd be better off taking the time to starch the snot out of the fabric before I cut it. Usually I'll take a picture of it and send it to the shop owner for approval before cutting up the rest of the fabric.

I made my first sample block just a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to start a quilt from a picture so thought it might help to make a sample first. I am not the sample type. The less "extras" I have at the end of a quilt the better I like it; and I always have extras, so why make one to start. I did use graph paper to get the basics of have to put it together, which was a great help! I also did not have a full picture of the quilt. I could determine it was on point and was made from three different blocks. But I could not determine how many blocks or set in triangles, or size. But the main reason I made the samples was to see if I liked the colors. I was not totally pleased with it but decided to press on. Now it is finished and I have another problem that I might post in another thread.
I stated I was not totally pleased with the colors so I changed the first border after the set in triangles to kind of brighten it somewhat. Now I would like to add a flange on the binding of this same border fabric. I have never made a flanged binding
and I also attach my bindings as I quilt the top on the LA, and I'm wondering if this is possible with the flange added.
Speaking of tried and true patterns, I have a quilt book that I started making a pattern in the book, cutting all the fabric first, that I couldn't understand so I called the number in the book. It turned out it was the author herself. She was basically no help, put the blame on the publisher, and said that she didn't remember exactly how the pattern went and didn't offer to refresh her memory and get back to me. Needless to say I will not be making anymore patterns in that book. It was a really neat concept though, but I won't chance the pattern not being right.

I don't think so. The flange bindings I've done have all been sewn to the back of the quilt first, then wrapped around the sandwich and sewn onto the front of the quilt right at the joint between the flange and the binding.

If I make a test block I usually do it with cheap fabric, but I seldom make practice block unless I resized the blocks in pattern and want to make sure it will work

When I begin a project I generally make a sample block of each type and colorway for the quilt. Not only does this help me decide if I like the colors/pattern but these blocks also give me templates to follow so I get the fabric placement right and see how the blocks play together. Since I tend to deviate from patterns on a regular basis (usually fabrics, sometimes adding details to plain blocks, etc), I need help o keep things straight.