let's see if this pinning lesson will help... do the sewing in the order i mentioned before...but...when time to match up the halves, stick a pin straight thru from one side to the other, straight up and down on the seam line and 1/4" away from the edge. NOW, holding that pin straight up and down.....place a pin on each side while not moving the original... then you can remove the 'straight up and down pin' and move to the next seam... and don't forget to unsew the seams inside after getting the whole circle together...it will not lay flat without that...