Originally Posted by pineneedles4
You should cut your strips 8 1/2" long, not 8".
Finished seams...strips will measure 2 1/4 + 2 + 2 + 2 1/4 = 8 1/2. So if you cut the stirps 8 1/2 long it will fit together perfectly.
pineneedles4 you beat me to the answer.