I have been reading the other posts on cotton theory, and that is not what I am doing. I am not making my blocks in little strip pieces and quilting each section as I go. I make one 12-1/2 block, as I usually do, then quilt that entire block. I can see why those blocks would be stiff. Mine are no stiffer than if I were to put all the block tops together and do the stippling all over. There isn't any special ruler - as I have been reading about - that is used. I don't insert 1 or 2" sashings between each block, the backing becomes the sashing.....I can see why seams would be a little wonky and messy looking.....Am I missing something????