I used sashing strips between the blocks when I made one that way. I saw a lady on Simply Quilts do it that way. Only draw back was hand-sewing all the strips on the back side but it is definitely do-able.
I'll upload the picture of the one I did. I was a newbie at the time and should have made the sashing wider. The sashing strips are double thickness, front & back to make up for the lack of batting between the blocks.
Star Sampler--Quilted block by block before assembling
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