So, with all this in mind, I am going to do a practice run using un-washed fabric that I have starched and using a background fabric that matches the "grout" satin stitch colour. The satin stitch will be quite narrow, so I may get away without a stabilizer. The reason I'd like to do without the stabilizer is that the pieces are small and it would be quite a job to use tear away stabilizer or to have to cut it away from the inside of each and I'm concerned if I left it in place it might cause problems when I go to FMQ it down the road.
Decisions, decisions...
Watson