Should I use a template when making a first crazy quilt?

A crazy quilt is many different shape squares or triangle,etc pieced together. A template is not needed if you have a cutting board and a quilting ruler. You can sew all the pieces together lets say to what looks like 12" by 12". then take that square and place it on the cutting board and use your ruler to cut it to a perfect11 1/2 by 11 1/2 square. You can make as many squares or do it in triangles to make a lap quilt, twin quilt or whatever size you want. I have taken extra squares and triangles and put them together in a crazy quilt. It turned out perfect.then to finish it off take some material and make a 4 inch border and your done. You always make your squares with 1/2 inch allowance because you will be sewing them together and that is your 1/4 seam on both sides.