I depends on what the pattern is. Just a bunch of straight seams like this I don't usually rip anything unless I accidentally start sewing without moving my needle to the 1/4" position. This is strip pieced for the 9-patch and corner sections, then cut apart and sewn to other pieces. Strip piecing is pretty accurate though I have learned to not do too long of a piece because it tends to get wonky. I did 9" strips for everything because I used 9"x11" fat 16th.
If it's 8 points meeting in the middle or something I am much more careful about sewing. I haven't done diamonds since I did a Jinny Beyer pattern and resorted to doing the ENTIRE thing by hand because the diamonds wouldn't go together right. That was before I knew about using starch so maybe someday I'll try them again.
I am going to try an applique technique I watched on the Sharon Schamber network. She uses a double freezer paper template, paints starch on the seam allowance, then folds the fabric around the shapbe and irons it. She then glues the piece in place, irons to set, and does a monofilament zig-zag on the edge. I ordered some plastic template material that you can iron on because I am doing so many of the same shape.