DO NOT WASH BEFORE YOU COMPLETE THE QUILT! Sorry to yell but I wanted to make sure you saw it with all the washing information. On my first quilt, I did not know how to machine or hand quilt. Tried to machine quilt a few (not so) straight lines, not good so started hand quilting. I prefer it to anything now. Before you decide how you want to finish and how you want it to look, google beginner hand and machine quilting, there are lots of videos. Also look at "hoopless hand quilting", it's what I like. Have fun and ask a lot of questions. Remember woman LOVE to tell men what to and how to do things LOL!!
FYI, I use starch right out of the bottle! Get mine at Wal-Mart, one of the few local places to carry it!