be sure to stop sewing exactly on the 1/4" spot at each intersection, then as you press make the seams all go (around) in one direction. sometimes it is necessary to clip a few stitches in the center, but if you mark the 1/4" spot and stop there you save yourself that step. if you visit elenor burns/ quilt in a day, there are technique tutorials that you can check out to see how it looks when you put together 8-pointed stars this way and get the centers to lay flat instead of puffing up in the center.