I've made several. I love them. I think block size is a personal preference. I use smaller (5", 4" finished) for baby quilts, (9, 8" finished) for lap quilts. I make a star in mine, then stitch all the way around the edge just inside the seam line. I think as long as you use a good batting, they hold up pretty well. My son's has been washed many times and still looks great.