Most new quilters have never sewn clothes and the seam allowance for clothes is 5/8". When I first started quilting it was easier for me as a clothes sewist to use a 1/2" seam allowance. My quilt blocks were either smaller or larger then the pattern but that was okay with me. I just made fewer blocks or more blocks. I was comfortable with the 1/2" for a long time. I eventually found my way to the 1/4" seam. I don 't obsess over it, as long as the pieces fit together I'm happy.