Lisa,
Applique work always looks better after pressing whether done by machine or hand. Get a bath towel and lay your applique block face down on the towel and press with steam. No scrubbing, just up and down motion. -- Press from the back always. Pressing from the top side will crush and flatten your work.
Just to see the difference, press only half the block and see how the two halves compare. I hand applique a lot and my work always looks better after pressing.
Let us all know how this works.
Suzanne