Thank you for the tips. I am a self taught quilter and plan to meander the top myself in a regular sewing machine. the backing is flannel (for a baby) so I didn't plan to starch it. Actually I have never starched anything. I didn't know that was recommended. I did prewash the flannel backing. I gave up my plan to stitch in the ditch when I couldn't figure how to get the two to line up.