I square as I go, and on my machine needle position 6.0 is 1/4" I set my needle at 6.1, a scant 1/4", seems to help me when it comes time to square up and trim.

My sisters say I am too picky but I always square up. I do it different ways - depending on how it is sewed.

If the pattern calls for 3 7/8 squares - I make them 4in.

Or I use triangle paper - Thangles or generic.

If I am working on basic 4-patch... 9-patch - I sew a scant 1/4 inch seam and square it up. Always...

I use a JuneTaylor - Shape Cut or her Perfect Half-square & Quarter-Square Triangles Ruler. One of my favorite/most important tool in my quilt room. I have worn out/cracked two two Shape Cuts - not because of poor quality but because I use them daily.

One of the reasons I am so picky is that sister got chewed out by her long arm quilter cause her quilt was so off square... Not me! My sister was a bit miffed but I just took note!

I have, of late, realized how very important it is to square as you go!

The difference in ruler marking makes it very important to use the same ruler whrn measuring a block or seam ,etc. Jolo

I square as I go, and also, like some of you, make the HSTs a little bigger so they turn out the right size. That's how I made the quilt in my avatar and it went together pretty easily.

Square up as you go - block by block - section by section. If you don't your whole quilt will be out of square and end up a shape you really don't want.

I square as I go....just makes it easier for me down the road. I always use the same ruler in a project too and never my mat...I just don't trust using the mat as much. But...thats just me. :wink:

Definitely square as you go! Then I measure my sections as I put the quilt together and adjust them if they are off. Then finally square it by measuring borders and then attaching them.

I rarely have a quilt that is more than a smidgen off of square when fully done.

Me Too! Square as you go!

I like to square as I go. If the units that go into a block aren't right to start with, my block will never be either.

I also do a lot of paper piecing. I've got Eq6 on my computer and if I can paper piece the unit I do. A lot of paper piecing can be "chain pieced" if the units are complex. It goes faster and my blocks look better in the end.

You will find what works best for YOU...

Julie