I have been wanting to make myself a pig quilt for a couple of years now. I finally started it but I really don't like it. I don't have a pattern and am just trying to wing it. I am making each pig a different color from batiks. I haven't done very much applique but I am doing it here. My problem (one of them) is the details on the pigs. I am horrible at satin stitching and have been ripping them out as much as I have been sewing them. I started with black thread but it looked awful. Switched to a darker color in the pig and looked better. I am making creases in the legs, body,ears,etc. Is this overdoing it? How am I going to make their tails? Can you tell they are pigs without all this extra sewing? Any help and ideas would really be appreciated. Don't know why I ever started this!!!!! I have only had one quilt in the past that I wanted to throw away and this one is getting very close to that....LOL...thank you

First, they look just like pigs to me the way they are. I don't think you need to do anything else except maybe embroider a curly tail. They are very cute.

He's a very nice pig. What is the problem with satin stitches? Are you doing them by machine or hand? How a small running stitch for the twisty tail? Honestly they look like cute pigs without any other embellisments. Sometimes adding more takes away from the cuteness.

Since you like pigs, I found this one recently -a cute flying pig applique pattern:

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/PDFs/2008_WhenPigsFly.pdf

I assume you are using a die cut since they look so nicely cut out so this will probably not work... but I'm going to say it anyway...
If you could make them 1/4" bigger on all the sides, sew it right sides together with a thin possibly fusible interfacing, then cut a slit in the interfacing... snip your curves and turn it right side out. Use a chopstick or something to get your curves all nice looking. Iron it out and then you can just place it where you want it to be and sew it down.
If you are using fusible interfacing make sure you iron it on to something that it won't stick to - I keep a larger piece of that non sticky paper from heat n bond for stuff like that ;)

That is going to be so cute. I'm sorry I won't be much help with the tail. I'm looking forward seeing what all the QB comes up with. Then you will have to decide which one to use. QB is sew creative!

Think your pigs are precious as they are. I use a Flexion pigma pen to detail & if it doesn't look like enough, I do a decorative stitch over the pen.

They look like pigs to me but I agree with sparkys mom that you do need the curly tail. I am gratified to see that your pigs don't have those done-to-death-wings on them. I am curious about why you picked pigs as a subject. Will you tell us? Do you raise pigs for market? Is pork your favorite meat?
Just curious.

Yes, I agree it looks terrible. since you want to throw it away I will send you my addy and pay for shipping. No way this piggy quilt is too cute! I agree maybe hand embroider some simple piggy tails and use something for a little eye or maybe just leave it. Too cute!

Use clear nylon thread with a small "sock" in the spool and regular thread for bobbin thread. Just do a small zig zag around the edges. You can barely see it and it will hold just fine. Now relax and hand embroider some simple tails on the cuties.

Have you thought of doing the tails with fabric? I don't know how big the pigs are but if you cut a skinny length of fabric, fold it in half longwise then sew down the side with a long stitch, turn it right sides out then pull on the thread it should curl up a bit... ?
I think some bent ears would be adorable.

I think that you're doing a great job on your pigs, very cute. How about just hand embroidery the tails on? If you don't like the satin stitches, how about a blanket stitch? Personally, I prefer the blanket stitch versus the satin stitch, but I think it's a personal choice.