Ok - I am going to TRY to attach three pictures... I tried once already but I don't think they went through. Please forgive me if this comes through twice.

Well done with getting the photos up. I think that by the time you have quilted in the ditch, a lot of that will have disappeared, as the seams will be pushed down, and the batting will push up the centre of each patch. Why not try it with a few hand stitches around one or two patches, (not even the whole block) to see if you get the desired effect. If that works, then machine quilting it should do the same thing. Using a walking foot would be preferable, so as to avoid pushing the fullness along.

really pretty fabrics and blocks

did you wash your fabric before cutting and sewing it?

compared to a couple of quilts I've seen, it's laying quite flat -

I think it could be "quilted out"

do you remember if your sewing machine was acting up during part of the sewing? it seems like a lot of the blocks are laying nice and flat

it looks to me that the seams are puckering more than the fabric

Thank you! I will try a bit of handquilting and see what happens before I spend my life's fortune on having someone machine quilt it. :) I feel so encouraged by all of you!

I did not pre wash my fabrics. I've been told to do so and not to do so by various quilters. So what do you recommend? (I always prewash if I am sewing a garment, etc.) My sewing machine is as old as the hills (not quite as old as me :), so your thoughts about seaming could be right on. My husband helps me with fabric choices and cutting. I could never piece a quilt if not for him (first of all, I would give up right away :D and I have absolutely no puzzlemaking abilities. I have a whole new appreciation for quilt makers!!

Hi and Welcome from southern Indiana!!

There is always a big debate about whether to prewash fabrics or not. I usually do prewash mine -- especially if there are any dark colors or reds -- just to be on the safe side when it's finished! If you use one of the color grabber sheets in your wash (which I always do when prewashing), you'll be amazed at how much color there is in some of this stuff.

The washers and do not washers are both quite vehement in their opinions.

I am VERY VERY VERY pro-washing. I know the quilts I make will have to visit the washing machine at some time, and I really don't want an unpleasant surprise after it's all put together.

I also don't know how finicky/careful the new owners will be when they do the laundry, either.

Some old machines still sew beautifully. Maybe a visit to the "machine doctor" might be worth the money.

Most piecing - as far as I know - is done either by hand with a very short running stitch - or with a straight machine stitch.

If you are sewing with a short stitch and stretching your fabric, that might cause puckers.

When I took a class ages ago to learn how to sew T-shirts, we were told to LENGTHEN the stitch and stretch the fabric - when relaxed it would lay flat and have some give.

When stretched and sewn with a short stitch, the fabric would just ripple. (And it would be very hard to unsew)

Molly, I'm not quite sure how to break this too you. Sit down dear. Take a deep breath. OK, here's the truth. I'm afraid that you're going to have to admit that if you've made five quilts you really are, a quilter.

You did a beautiful job with your fabrics and piecing. Will be looking forward to seeing it when it's all done. Keep up the good work!

As for prewashing VS not, try it both ways yourself. That's the best way to decide what works for you. There's pros and cons to both sides.

For what it's worth, I'm a pre-washer, not only for getting off the sizing (starching is the backup when needed) and color bleeds that aren't anticipated, but it's been my experience too, with quilt shop quality fabrics as much as other shop fabrics, the hot wash and mild dry pre shrinks the material, which helps me and my confidence level that it won't do anything "weird" once a project is done and ready to wash for the first time. Those are the reasons I have chosen to prewash. It may not work for everybody.

I didn't really see any puckering that was that bad to me. That would have not fazed me one bit to see that in a block I made. I starch and iron my fabric before cutting. Not much can distort it after that. If the fabric is bad to work with I'll know before cutting. I don't use laundry detergent on my fabric in the pre wash. I use only warm water, if the water has fabric die in it then I don't use that fabric at all if the rinse water is discolored too.