if measurements of your quilt say cut 6 strips, i cut 7. one must sew them all together and that takes up inches. I've done my joining different ways over the years. main thing is, to join them. either by stitching them together on angle, same way as you make your binding. or ending by slipping one end into the other. the other one should be folded on that angle before slipping other end inside. then sew as usual and flip over and finish. Take it slow and get to that finish line.