On the one I just finished, I used 1/2" seam allowance. I've decided that if I do another one, I'll have to do 3/4" or 1". I cut through some of the seams when I was stitching! What a mess I had after I washed and dried it - had to re-sew about 8 different places. But it was fun and easy to do. There were 88 8" squares.