I would also get well aquainted with your iron and bottles of starch. It helps with the cutting and with matching everything properly. I did my first with out starch and it was nuts and after I started to starch my fabric my blocks started to look better. And as for your question, you don't need to do a back stitch because you will be going over the ends with other blocks or the boarder or the binding. just make sure that your stitch langth is on the shorter side. I have mine sitting around 1 1/2 on my Janome and on my singer. It makes ripping take longer but it keeps the seams nice and secure. I hope you like your new addiction.