Well...your problem is a lot worse than mine not being able to find my new package of rotary blades. I really DO feel bad for you. I completed (or so I thought) the bag for my son's girlfriend for Christmas. When I turned it right side out...I had sewn the handles on wrong and they were down inside between the lining and the bag. I will say that the person who wrote the pattern for her book did NOT give very good/explicit directions. The bag is still sitting here waiting for me to figure out how to rip out just the straps without a big hassle and me cursing the bag the whole time I am ripping.
I'm not that experienced at quilting but have sewn forever and ripping out anything is horrible. So...I would do like most have said...get other fabric for the blocks and border.