Good luck in making these good skills a habit. I am patient, but I have all the other problems. But like you I'm learning to prewash, starch, iron, hold my starting thread and sew a scant 1/4 " seam.( I wish it were an even 1/4".) When piecing, use the same sewing machine throughout the whole project. I'm finishing up my third quilt, which I doubt will ever withstand many washings because of a too thin fabric I used. In that experience I learned that if a thin fabric must be used, then use fusible interfacing to stabilize it. These above statements tell almost everything I know so far. I'm also learning to cut and square accurately. Onward and upward!