I agree with Ritzy. It's better to find out why now, than when the quilt sections won't fit together. Margo has a great class:
[url]learn/classrooms/[/url]
There are many ways to get your quarter inch consistent. I love a Collins Style ruler where the needle goes into the quarter inch mark, and then put a dam of tape to help direct the fabric, only mine is a Prym-Dritz from Joann's. There are other whole forum sections on this topic, but I think we'd all agree...that quarter inch is crucial in all of the BOM's.
I repeatedly make the mistake of cutting on the wrong cutting line of the ruler...I've learned to put a post-it or piece of tape at the right line.
Janet, I didn't see a measurement in the Jan PDF for the raw edge to raw edge of the finished panel, after all the sashings, etc are sewn together. Am I just missing it?