I measure every seam after I sew it to make sure it's 1/4 inch. And I measure every piece after it's sewn to make sure it's the size it's supposed to be. If your one little seam is off by 1/16th of an inch and you repeat that several times, by the time you get to the end, you'll have a whole inch or so that is too small or too big. I have the ripper right next to the scissors and the little ruler at my machine. I rip immediately if it's not right. It's awful to get the blocks done and they don't fit right. And the puckers and stretching don't come out with the quilting-- the whole quilt just wags off crooked. My grandma- who taught me to sew- said do it right or don't do it. She also taught me with the ripper- I know it might be compulsive, but I'm more happy with the results if I do it this way.
Cheryl