Okay, I have a slightly different opinion. I seldom square up my blocks. Instead I *try* to check measurements as I sew, to be sure that the block is at all times the right size. It seems to me that slicing off parts of the block after it is finished will mean that (1) I didn't sew it very carefully to begin with and (2) I will be removing bits that are necessary to keep points at the proper places. The exception is that some methods of sewing (e.g. for HST's) call for cutting a little large and then trimming to size for that unit only. As for blocking, I think careful pressing at each step will mean that blocking is unnecessary. (And no, I don't sew perfectly, but I'd rather rip and fix an area as soon as I've done it wrong than try to fix it when the block is finished.)