Jaba, I've never tried the pineapple blocks before, but when I get back after Christmas I'll try it and see! That might just be my next set of placemats! When we're watching TV, my boyfriend always likes it dark (and there's nowhere for a lamp by the couch because it's in the middle of the room, the only place it'll fit in this living room) so I can't work on anything else. I usually do my binding on the machine, but no matter how perfectly I line up front and back when I've turned it to the front, it's always off on the back on at least part of it. I'm not sure I have the patience to sit and bind by hand without something else going on. I usually listen to either podcasts of books or my DJ friend's online channel while I sew or do handwork.