I absolutely love mine and would never make a rag quilt without it. As a matter of fact I just finished (well almost) tons of flannel to make some. I normally make blocks ahead of time and the when I need a quick gift I go thru my blocks and pick out the ones that match the person its for and sew the seams together and I'm done. I do flannel front and back and I use light batting in the middle but that's optional and some use 3 thicknesses instead of batting. I sometimes applique designs on the back of the quilt to make it reversible. The ones that I'm getting ready to make are going to have the centers embroidered on the machine for my newest DGD and the one due in 4 weeks. When I bougth mine there was only one size, the 8.5 and I can't imagine without it and it gives you more room to personalize it with designs or sayings. My grandson's for kindergarden had his name, yr and school name on it. Its a keepsake. I'd never make one if I had to use scissors.