if you're making small blocks ... say ... 6" finished or less ... you should consider trimming your seam allowances to less than 1/4".
if you do foundation piecing or plan to echo quilt close to both sides of the seams, a 1/8" allowance should remain sturdy throughout the years. otherwise, i'd recommend 3/16" or thereabouts.
the narrower allowances will leave more "quiltable" surface.