I wouldn't pin strips together at all before sewing! I "finger pin", just holding the strips together with my fingers. I place the strips together, put them under the presser foot, perhaps take a couple of stitches to secure them, then "finger pin" about 10 inches from the needle, holding the strips together with my fingers as they are fed to the needle. My other hand guides the fabric. When my fingers get close to the needle, I stop and "finger pin" again. It saves a lot of time!
Also, I have placed a seam guide next to my needle so I don't have to sweat the perfect scant 1/4-inch seam. I stack pieces of moleskin (found in the foot department of drugstores) so I can but the strips up against this stop as I sew. Allows me to sew much faster with less eye stress and greater accuracy.