I do because a long time ago, I made a throw & nothing matched in size.Had to cut the blocks down,add sashing etc.I prob had to cut the sashing down too, as I was pretty new.
There are several reasons for making a sample square.With blocks that all have to be turned/sewn in a certain order,you check each against the sample.Think pinwheels & log cabins.
Checking the block size can save hrs of work.
If the sample is good to go...it's stuck right in front of my machine.If not, it goes into my pile of orphan blocks :-)that will someday be sewn together & given away.

The main reason being sure I want to spend the time/work /fabric making that quilt.When it comes down to the nitty gritty,often times the answer is no.The block speaks to me & that alone has saved me buying a ton of fabric.You would think just seeing a pic of a quilt would work..& sometimes it does, but making a sample block works best for me.

It depends on how complicated the block is.

I will from now on... If I had made a sample block of the ugly quilt I am making, I wouldn't be making it. It is all cut out, so I don't have any other option than to finish it. I know the reasons it is ugly to me though. #1 It is too dark for my taste. #2 There isn't enough contrast for my taste. I just hope someone will fall in love with and just have to have it. HOPE! HOPE! HOPE!

Think every quilt is loved by someone, sooner or later.I can hardly force myself to work on a quilt I don't like,for whatever reason.If I make 3-4 blocks & don't like it,that's my limit for sure....but took too long to learn it.:-(

I always do a sample block/s so I can determine whether I like the colors and look of what my quilt will be when finished. It saves a lot of frustration/heartache if I decide I don't like it.

I do but not for size. I do it to decide how to press seams - especially in a complicated block.

If a pattern looks to be quite challenging, I will make 4-6 blocks first....enough to get the hang of it and see if I like it enough to finish a full quilt and then go ahead and cut more or if I'm not really in love with it, I can make those few blocks up into a small dolly quilt or a table runner.

Jodi in Leavenworth

Sometimes I'll even piece a complicated block by hand to figure out how to press the seams.

I don't make fabric samples.
I draw the whole quilt onto graph paper with colored pencils.
I can try out block sizes, color placement and shades this way.
I assign a measurement to each sq. of the graph, such as all red colored sqs equal 1", all yellows equal 3.5" etc.
This is just easier for me.

Sadiemae, I am laughing as I read this! You're so cute and funny :D
To answer the question, no I don't but probably should!