DJ, I did wonder about that too but after chatting with Shadow I realised that I would be loosing a qtr inch each side for the seams so there is no need to, all I have done so far have turned out fine.
Thank you all for the compliments, and I hope that those of you who give it a go are delighted with the results, they do make impressive gifts, more so to people who do not quilt themselves as it has the rather baffled.
Katherine