Thank you so much, I don't think that it is so much sewing the curve as the center part was curved and turned out great. There is something about the top which has triangles that are sewn together to form the circle then pinned around the whole center piece. That is where everything went straight into the toilet. I think it is how I sewed the triangles together that lead to the problem.
I am about to put the whole template mess up for sale as I don't find the pattern enjoyable. However, I don't give up that easily and will go at it again when I am not so frustrated.