Solobiker - One word, square! If you square up your blocks as you assemble them, you stand a much better chance of everything matching up.
Sandra, I have a longarm quilting business, so I use my machines. Hand quilting is a great traditional method, but you need alot of free time and patience to be a hand quilter. Tying with DMC floss or Pearle Cotton is the quickest and easiest way to finish your quilts. You can also machine quilt smaller quilts on your home machine with a walking foot and free motion foot. bikerHen