Welcome to the board! If I understand your question correctly, you have started hand piecing the blocks instead of machine piecing. This shouldn't affect the size of the block as long as your seams are 1/4 (or whatever the pattern calls for). I've done both hand piecing and machine piecing, and the size of the block is the same. Let me know if I misunderstood your question. I'm only on my first cup of coffee.
Renee