I cut the block together. One layer of backing fabric, then the batting square (cut with the 6 1/2 square die), the the top layer of the block. The block gets cut as one. Having the whole block together cuts way down on the lint. I use thin cotton batting that doesn't have a lot of lint. I like 80/20. I made a rag quilt using batik for the back and front and there was very little lint at all and the strips ragged just fine.