I never thought of them as "rules", maybe guidelines. Trim threads as you quilt-don't wait til end. If I have to leave my sewing machine area, no matter how long or short, I turn off the light. My iron is plugged into a power strip on the floor so that I can turn it off and on with my toe! If I start making mistakes, I need to take a break. My fabric is "top shelf" because my time is priceless!