OMG, I can't believe all the good ideas! You guys are awesome!

Ironing so that the seams fit together helps a lot. I pin parallel to the seam, out of the way of the seam allowance. That way I can keep the pins in until I'm done.

I would suggest removing the pins at the very last instant before you sew over them. Also maybe using finer (thinner) pins when pinning blocks together. Jeanniebelle

I pin just outside the seam line parallel to the edge of the fabric. That way you don't sew over the pins and they keep the fabric in place. I have never seen this tip on any of the quilt shows. Am I the only one who does this?

I use a toothpick for those tiny spots of glue, then I don't have to worry about cleaning out the applicator tip

I always pin the two seams and then I sew upto the pen before taking the pin out. I have to sew slow but this works for me. Shorten the stitch length as well

I press, pin and remove just as I get to the pin (have to raise the presser foot to remove it) hold in place with a stiletto. Works every time.

THANKS EVERYONE, for all of the great suggestions. I had a few blocks that didn't seat before I wrote.
I went back yesterday eve., and used the glue suggestion, and re-did those blocks. They look perfect!!
thanks so much everyone!!
Mariah.

fork pins--my newest best quilting friends. never got a point seam so exact.

You sew all of your blocks in to pairs. Then you sew the pairs in to giant four patches. Then you sew the giant four patches in to even bigger four patches until you have the quilt in quarters. Sew the top half together and then the bottom half together and then sew the two halves together. You only have one full width seam and your quilt comes out squarer and all your block seams match perfectly.

Number each row and block and press all the odd row seams to the left and all the even row seams to the right.