Thank you, thank you for all of the guidance. It sounds like I may try basting spray with my next quilt. Meanwhile, I will try the large tic tac toe like stitching first, then the blocks. I had not thought about not stitching into the borders. I want to try a 'pattern of quilt stitching in the borders. Thanks for the heads up Batik. Why would I not want to leave the border until last?