I made my first quilt -- a log cabin -- without knowing much of anything. I had Judy Martin's newest book, not realizing that 20 years earlier I had her first that I gave to my mother-in-law and she made a quilt for my husband & me.
Anyway, Judy suggests precutting BUT not across the grain, she suggests the lenghtwise direction. I did what she said, the quilt went together perfectly. Didn't realize when I took it to the quilter that I was supposed to square it up. SURPRISE, that wasn't a problem, it was perfectly square -- A twin size quilt I made for my Uncle.
If I remember that's the quilt I have for a photo.
Don't know what went right; but, it did.