I like the idea of the long, vertical row. it will make the blocks look like panels. That's going to be one sweet quilt. It's gorgeous!! Congrats on getting the hang of the paper piecing. I leave my paper in until I get it sewn to the next piece. I think it makes a great stabilizer while I'm sewing the blocks together and with the line there, you can be sure you're getting a perfect ¼" every time.