Thank you everyone for your kind generous assistance to my multitude of problem. I think I will definitely have to learn to "press" and not iron and I will have to do that before I cut my fabric. It has been a good few years since I have taken a quilt class. Maybe I am due for one!!! I will check out the suggested website tutorials and videos to refresh myself on these preliminary steps.
After I wrote my "cry for help" note, I went to my favorite LQS. I was talking to the owner/quilter (she is quite talented and has won some awards for her quilts) about my problems. She suggested similar ideas as proposed on this board. I purchased some fabric and noted that even she an experienced quilter, still did not have a perfectly straight cut on the edge of the fabric I purchased. This made me feel a little better... Thus, I guess we are all humans.