Without a template and blocks you really do risk having some problems with signatures. Someone's hand writing may be shaky or food or other stuff get on the quilt.
I use my file folder template method because of this. I have had a lot of 'do-overs' because of how people signed them. Like: not signing in the area correctly so that part of their name gets squished into a tiny space because they started out to big ... and worse ... like forgetting their name???
With the time and money we invest in making a quilt I wouldn't risk anything but block & file folder template use.