One thing that really helped me learn was watching Carol Doak's dvd. It's in her 50 Stars book and my library had a copy. Checked it out and my, oh my, the things I learned. I moved my iron and ironing board closer to my machine which saved a tremendous amount of time and formed a triangle with the cutting mat on one side, machine on another. I sit in a secretary chair (without arms) and spin to my work areas. Practice makes the blocks go faster, even if unsewing a seam in necessary. lol Also, check out quilterscache.com for a wealth of free patterns, sorted by size and name. Don't give up. Another trick is to starch your fabric ... easier to work with and doesn't get caught in throat plate, etc.