Hoping to make you feel a bit better - I recently finished a Hidden Wells Quilt. It was my third HWQ and at least my 20th quilt. I had nothing but problems with it (I cut all my own strips). I had starched the heck out of the blocks (to keep them from stretching). I fought that quilt every step of the way. I did the QAYG method, which I really liked but I tried quilting with glow in the dark thread and when I pressed the blocks, the tread melted and I had to pick the thread out of two 16" blocks. Quilting the borders was so difficult, I felt like I was fighting a whale (It was only a twin). I was never so glad to finish a quilt in my whole life. I would have quit but I had already showed it to my GD. I was ready to stop quilting, I was so distraught over the whole thing. I used a flannel back and spray basted the blocks. I am now doing another quilt for another GD and everything is going along just fine. It has a minky back, which I really don't like using as well as I like batting. My GD picked out the jelly rolls and the minky. Again, sometimes "stuff" happens and once you move on it doesn't seem so bad. Also, I washed the HW quilt and it crinkled up beautifully and I agree that once washed no one will ever see the puckers. Hope my story helped you through this project.