i use 2" strips front and back of blocks...then stitch on machine...a great way to use some of those decorator stitches...also, your quilt does not shrink as you have the seams flat and covered (batting and all, no trimming or flipping etc... the only thing i hand stitch onthese type of quilts is my binding - just looks better to me. also, if you dont like the strips making yuor quilt look like a grid or latticed you can use the same fabric used for front and back on your sashing/binding strips.