There is no cheating since this isn't a test. I do that sometimes, it keeps me as warm as when I put on binding. The best advice I ever heard about mothers is "you need to accept her for who she is, not who you would like her to be", and this means that she is not someone who will say, "what a good idea, your not wasting fabric and it will look really nice" which is what she should say, if she was the supportive mother I/we strive to be. Instead she chooses to find fault, accept this is who she is, probably if you had put on binding she would have found fault with that. The important thing is YOU are enjoying yourself. Have fun. I find quilting to be great therapy.