If I was trying to put them together, I could live with an 1/8" seam, if necessary. If the block was too large, I could just trim it.

On the other hand, if I was sending my own block to someone else, I would keep working on it, until it was the right size . . . . I'd be too embarrassed, to send something obviously wrong. :eek:

I don't belong to any swaps or groups. I tolerate whatever I need to if it is my work. I have figured out most everything I want to do. I would not want my work examined by anyone else.

To me 8 1/2" = 8 1/2", etc. That was the biggest learning curve for me coming from apparel sewing. Once I learned it, I have no tolerance.

I err on the side of someone sent me their best effort. Allowing for the inconsistencies of some rulers and mats I don't sweat it. I will find a mutual color to frame the smaller blocks and trim the over size ones. I am the last person to say my way is the only way. And I have a beautiful set of blocks awaiting my finishing appliquing the central theme block.

I have sweated blood over exact 12 1/2 inch squares for a project only to end up having to make several new blocks because the constant unsewing made holes in the fabric. Prewashing and using the same rulers and mats through out as well as marking my 1/4 inch on my machine all seem to have helped, however I still have the occasional oops.

I also have very little tolerance. But I have learned that using sashing between blocks--and marking the 'expected' points on the sashing-can make a huge difference. It's such a persnicketty thing, but marking where the blocks should start and end often means stretching just that 1/8 inch or easing in that 1/4 inch per block and ends up making the whole project less stressful.

I do not participate in swaps. Heck, I don't have time to finish my own stuff much less work to someone else's time table. Right now I have a Winnie the Pooh baby quilt half completed on my table, ideas for a doggie blanket for a co-worker in my head and have just ordered the fabric for my DGD's big girl quilt--design in limbo but percolating!!

If your squares are constantly off in measurement, check your seam allowance. There lies the truth. I am completing a lovely, labor intensive quilt from Japanese Quilt Inspirations by Susan Briscoe and found that I could see the variance immediately so I began to check each piece when the seam was finished with my small Dritze Ruler to improve accuracy. I would make corrections right away, not wait until the block was finished. All I have to do now is press the last two borders and it is ready to be admired....and sent to the quilter as it is 75" square....a lot for me to handle. I will be 75 years old this week and feel this could be my Swan Song....the best ever. It is worth the extra effort to be satisfied with the work of your hands.

For a group project I think they ought to be spot on.

I'm picky about everything, from start to finish. (Plus I don't do swaps.) I make my blocks and all its parts the exact size they are supposed to be. I detest seams & points that don't meet where they should. This sometimes requires some seam ripping and some adjustments; better that than the alternative of having quilt blocks that do not go together properly.

I always try to get mine as perfect as possible because that 1/8" gets multiplied & by the time you're at the end of a block or a row, you're way off. So I just try to "do it right" in the first place.

I have to be right on for a swap. I've been doing the Craftsy BOM (free) and all my blocks except 1 were exactly 12 1/2. One had one corner off by 1/16. I wanted to redo it, but when I tried, the block turned out funky, so I kept the original and put a pin in the short side so when I go to put it together, I'll know to adjust it so it will fit.