Well I have fiddled and diddled with bits of patchwork and decided to 'go for it' and make a topper for the spare bed. Several very good lessons were learned!
1. Buy enough fabric. Dont buy nice bits from a quilt show that you will NEVER match again as you threw the receipt away and cant remember the seller!
2. Buy enough batting! If you dont you will end up stitching odd bits together to make a big enough bit. I used an old sheet for the backing as I wasnt sure just how the whole thing would turn out - and I didnt want to spend any more money.
3. My own rotary cutting was not as good as I thought - I managed to blunt the blades quite quickly, despite having a proper mat. Next time I might buy ready cut pieces.
4. I used 3 different machines for piecing to see how they managed. The old Bernina was good, the newish Brother V5 was a pain (didnt have straight stitch plate and kept poking the fabric down the hole) but the Juki TL was brilliant. Its amazing how 1/4" seams can differ! Free motion was the same - Bernina ok but not enough room in it's harp, The Brother fussy but the Juki was the winner once again.
5. I purchased some ready made binding, 2" wide and it was fab. Would use that again.
6. I got very fed up with it in the end, trying to make the odd and ends fit together as I was determined not to buy anymore fabric.
Still, it is at last finished, and I'd quite like to have a go at another one, not making the same mistakes!