If you sew accurately and square up the blocks as you go, I think you can forego the blocking. I have had quilts hanging in Houston and Paducah and I have never blocked any of them. (I also didn't win a ribbon.) I did consider it, but it is really a lot of trouble and you have to have a large area somewhere that you can leave the quilt while it dries. Competition is fun, but I think I wouldn't do it if blocking a quilt was a requirement.