I just wondered if anyone just changes the 1/4" seam to 1/2" seam for their quilts. I'm pretty new at quilting and feel I have better control with a little more seam allowance to "play with"?

For the most part that will work, the only time it would get tricky is when you are sewing very narrow pieces/multiple intersections, then the seam allowance could get in the way :D:D:D

I thought the same thing a year ago when I started. I have sewn all of my life with a 5/8 inch seam. This 1/4 idea just seemed scary to me.

However, I have found that 1/4 is plenty. I did have to buy a 1/4 inch foot to put on my sewing machine to guide me, as I just can't do 1/4 on my own.

Just food for thought. Using 1/2 inch will work too, unless you go for really tiny pieces or have multiple seams intersecting...

Increasing the seam allowance does add bulk to the quilt. Which would be a problem for many patterns. Though for some simple blocks it would be fine.

This can work if the block doesn't contain triangles. It does add a surprising amount to fabric requirements, and makes the quilt heavier. Can be a problem is you decide you want to quilt the traditional 1/4" outside each seamline.

It's better to just practice until you are consistent with 1/4". Are you trying to sew without a seam guide? I use a strip of moleskin carefully positioned as a "stop" for my seams. Trying to use a tape mark or 1/4" foot (often inaccurate) does not work nearly as well for me as the physical guide.

I generally prefer to use at least a 3/8 inch seam for denim and flannel.

For "regular cottons" - the 1/4 inch seam is adequate.

I have some antique hand-pieced blocks that had scant 1/8 inch seams.

I do have an "older" quilting book that called for1/2 inch seams!!

since i don't work with patterns i use what ever seam fits me for that project.

the only time i adhere to the 1/4 rule is in swaps.

The first quilting instruction book I bought (loooong time ago) used 1/2" seams throughout the book. As the others have said, this is okay for basic blocks (I also use this for some kids quilts). The best thing is to learn the 1/4" seam--all patterns today use this so you wouldn't have to convert them to accomodate a larger seam. Also doesn't work with triangles, OBW's, very small blocks.
Practice, practice, practice LOL!!

Mary Ellen Hopkins uses what she calls her PPM (personal private measurement) when she pieces and she swears that you don't have to stick to a quarter inch, as long as your seam allowances are consistant thoroughout the project. Her recommendation is to use the seam allowance you are comfortable with. I haven't tried her method (I'm a quarter-incher), so I can't testify to it. But she is a prolific quilter and has written a boat load of quilting books. So I tend to think she is on to something.
However, pieced block instructions are almost always based on a quarter inch seam allowance, so a change in seam allowance with change the size of the finished block.

Tiny blocks for miniature quilts are easier with 1/8" seams, so I'd imagine larger blocks would be fine with 1/2" seams. I usually cut larger and then square up units as I go to their proper size.