I have also learned to cut my pieces just a thread or two larger than the size called for. Live and learn. I have been quilting for 20 years now and am just now learning to leave "imperfect" seams alone. I have spent way too much time redoing things that were perfectly ok, no one else would have seen a problem with, trying to get it perfect. Don't go there! There are too many quilts I want to make still, to spend so much time going after perfection.