I think you did a great job for your first quilt!! It didn't turn out badly at all and from a distance, which is how most people will view your quilt, it looks darn good. :thumbup:
A book that I consider a Must-Have in any quilter's home library is a book by Sally Collins called "Mastering Precision Piecing." She does quilts that are considered miniatures, I'm talking a 4-patch that is only a quarter inch big and stuff like that, and her piecing is perfect. Her book teaches how to go step by step to achieve the perfect piecing. I must say, she's a pretty darn amazing lady and her quilts are absolutely stunning! One of her many tricks is that she measures each unit before advancing to the next stage. If it isn't right, she knows the mistake is in what she has just done and this makes it easier to spot what you are doing to make the mistake and to fix it before you get too far into the quilt.
She also has a video out that shows her in her home sewing room. She gives a tour, shows the tools she considers a must-have, and demos various techniques. Her technique for ironing is amazing and has made a HUGE difference for me. She presses the unit or block and then sets a weight (she uses a book or a ruler with a weight on it) on the piece and allows it to cool completely before picking it up to sew on the next piece. I was shocked at just how flat the piece comes out. The reason to let it cool completely, which only takes a minute or so, is because when the fabric is still warm it can stretch. Most of us press our pieces and then snatch them up and head straight to the sewing machine to sew the next piece on. I know I am always eager to keep going. It never occurred to me that I could be stretching out my pieces by moving them while they are still warm and pliable. I didn't think I had a problem in this area but I sure do notice a difference doing it her way!
If you can't afford to buy them, see if your local library can get hold of them. They're worth reading/watching. ...Can you tell I'm a fan!?! :lol:
Are you going to quilt this yourself or send it out and have it done by a long-armer?