I am going to be using the back basting method of needle turn. I did three practice blocks, but I didn't measure the size of the background first. I just grabbed some scraps. And the practice was to decide if I wanted to do needle turn or fusable. I tried Steam a Seam lite and Misty Fuse and the back basting thing. All the blanket stitches I did by hand. The pattern book is Just Horsing Around by the lady who did the cat, dog and bunny applique books. I forget her name right now. Anyway, I will be doing the nine different foals. But my practice was two lambs and a kitty.