some people do applique their very first quilting project. there are beginner applique patterns just like beginner other patterns. if you want to do applique jump in and do applique, you do not have to reach any certain level to try something new. if all you do is beginner/pieced quilts how will you learn anything new? my very first quilt was hand embroidered and pieced(baby quilt)/ fast forward 20 years and my next first quilt (the first big quilt) was a stained glass dragonfly quilt...i was told it was not a beginner pattern but, hey, not knowing that, i made it anyway. if someone had told me ahead of time it was an advanced pattern i probably would not have even picked it up...but i did not know so i made it...it was easy, fun, beautiful results and hooked me on applique even though i still had trouble getting my 1/4" seam consistantly.