I agree clipping could be the problem, but perhaps cutting little v's out of the seam will make it lie a lot flatter.

who is the quilt for?

I love the "Love Beads" pattern that you put up originally, with the few rows of circles at the top. I just read that tute that madquilter posted and it is very clear with lots of pictures. Thanks!

I had several suggestions regarding this quilt.
Most were to applique and I decided I just could not applique that many circles without going nuts.

SO I convinced my daughter that her old Mother could not do it.
I convinced her by creating the quilt on the computer, scans of fabrics included, and printing it in color.
We decided on a pattern called Sushi from a Karla Alexander "Stack a New Deck" book.
I used the same fabrics we started with, bought the border fabrics Saturday and I am well on the way to finishing it.
A whole lot more fun for me, she liked it and I will have the top finished later today.
Here are two pictures before sewing the pieces together.

very nice and very interesting.