I have my pieces hanging on a rack with a label what size they are at that time. So when I have another piece to add to it I know which way I might want to add to it. I try to buy the same batting so I don't have to worry about mixing them up. Just finished a bunch of small projects on the machine and was able to use up a bunch of my pieces I hadn't gotten around to sewing together. It was a good feeling to be able to use them up in this way. Just kept adding over the backing as I went along. No leftovers this time.