I did my first one quite early on in my quilting life. The starch idea is a good one, the only thing I found a little difficult was the insert the background (inset corners) not impossible but I seem to remember one or two of them took a couple of attempts to get it sitting flat.
I think there is a 'quilt in a day' booklet I used. Accuracy in piecing and cutting is essential other wise it either dips in the middle or is a big frill round the outside (that's why you see so many unfinished tops on Ebay)