Okay, I do not press or starch before I sew my pieces together. I also don't prewash. I do press as I go along. I even press the seam, to "set the press"...I think it is called. So, like everything in my life, I do some stuff right and some stuff wrong...but it works for me.
If you can piece a queen sized top in a week, I'd say you are doing really well!! Just do what you want to do, it sounds like it is working!!
Dina