It all depends on the circumstance. Sometimes you make straight for the numbers or a straight in approach. Other times you may be making wide, square patterns. Other times they may be closer and tighter.

I've done constant turns in small and large aircraft, and in I've done squared patterns in both.

When doing a constant turn to final, I like to roll the wings level briefly to clear traffic in the turn.

Don't confuse cross controlled stalls with tightening the turn a little. Don't get in the habit of thinking that crossing the controls is going to cause a disaster, either. That's usually the thinking of someone who heard it from someone else, ad infinitum, in the training pipeline.

I do a lot of tight patterns and non-standard patterns, overhead and midfield entries, direct entries to base, straight in, and so on...they've all got their place depending on the circumstances...and in other cases they shouldn't be used due to traffic, terrain, ATC requirements, local airport policies, etc. It's best to have a variety of techniques and practices that you can safely and comfortably use. In all cases, including continuous turns, you're not breaking any rules by taking time for safety, leveling or raising a wing briefly, or widening out a little to allow a shallower bank and more time.

On stalls, remember that you control whether the airplane stalls.