My head explodes when I try to do this with any regularity…I just do different type of scrap projects…lol
Exactly that. The pieces I cut were 1.5"sq, so when pieced they should finish at 1" but if course mine aren’t that regular. You iron theme and use them like any other pieced pieces.
It’s a small enough piece so it just finishes off one seam to allow you to cut off the piece you’re working on. Less thread waste and no pieces being eaten by the machine when you’re starting a seam. I often leave them, almost sewn in the machine when I finish a session, so it’s ready to go next time.
But I think a 2.5" square would be better. Only because even cutting the 1.5" is fiddly. And while sewn together, I don’t find the resulting pieces very usable. But the 1" finished size would work with any quilt block, so there is that.
Sorry I just saw this question after I replied to magpie.
You know sometimes when you start sewing, especially at points. The machine can eat the points and you have a bit of a tug of war to get it back. Or sometimes the tension goes funny and you get a snarl of thread at the start of the seam. If you use leaders and enders you avoid both of these.
When you’re starting a seam, you are supposed to hold the threads back, this stops the snarls. But it’s a PITA to remember up do that each time. So with a leader, you’re taking two small squares of fabric, sew them together (holding the threads back) when you get to the end of the seam, you don’t cut the thread. Instead you line up the next two pieces of fabric that you want to sew together, to start right at the edge of the previous seam, doing this lots of time is chain piecing.
It’s basically a production line. Say you’re making ten of the same patches, and the first two pieces you have to sew-are all done one after the other. At the end of all ten, you line up anothe two of your mini squares (the enders), sew them, but stop sewing just before you finish the seam. You’ll have enough space to cut off your chain of piecing, then you cut them apart and iron them all. And then start again.
You end up with lots of squares sewn together, when can then be used for other stuff. You do need to have a bunch of squares prepped. But in theory, eventually (!) You’ll get a “free” quilt.
This means that you save loads of thread.
Let me know if this is still not clear and I’ll do a quick video.
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Beautiful.that fussy cut center is perfectly charming.
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I use a leader when I remember, but never an ender, but the idea of sewing ledt over blocks is brilliant.
But after crawling around on the floor pinning the sandwiched flannel lap quilt, I am exhausted. I have 2 more much needed lap quilts to create and the thought of more quilt blocks is having me reach for the wine.
Tomorrow I start on the quilting. I am procrastinating on starting to pick and cut out squares for my next lap quilt. I love a good procrastination project (some you do to avoid the other).
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Ive read @edel’s post about leaders/Enders and I’m still lost. I think I’m going to have to google some visuals. 
Anyway, I Whistlefish offer this cross stitch project case for my medium challenge entry.
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The zig-zag is my favourite, but they’re all lovely. It really shows how versatile your blocks are. I also really like the tent layout, that would be a great choice for a picknick blanket, especially with a matching backing fabric.
I made a tutorial on leaders and enders, with photos. I hope it’s clear, let me know if it’s not.
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I actually can’t decide, I’ve been looking at them too long. But it has convinced me that I need a design wall, doing this stuff on the floor is a workout!
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My favorite is #4, followed by #3.
Both Rob & I like the pinwheel best of all, the one Mollie is working on. Gorgeous blocks, really beautiful work!
I do think the asymmetric lay out is quite interesting. The last one too.
I like #1!
Sounds like we aren’t much help. 
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I like the pinwheels! I am definitely going to add this block to my list…it is just so versatile…wow…
1 and 2 for sure.
The last one makes me want to embroider something inside the blank panes. So, 6 as well.
Yeah, we aren’t much help. We like all the diversity, @Edel!
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Alex, this is just fantastic! I’m so proud of you for finishing this! I really just love everything about it. When you showed the first picture, I wasn’t really sure what it would end up being, but watching you work on it, it was so neat to see it take shape! This will be cherished!
@Edel So many fantastic choices, but I think my favorite is the second picture with the triangles. My second favorite is your bottom pictures.
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I, @AIMR, submit this as my January BOM…
I did two six inch blocks that will work well with my 12 inch February block!
I am pleased to say that no points were cut off once I renamed the parts of this block to make sense for me…and drew my own pictures to remember which side to square up so as not to cut off points!
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