Meredith, I am machine appliqueing mine. I learned a really nifty way from a quilter here in New Mexico - J. Michelle Watts. She uses an "open " satin stitch in matching thread. It's narrower than the regular satin stitch and more like a close, but not too close, regular zig-zag. I like it so much better than the button hole stitch (or blanket stitch) or a satin stitch. It just sort of lies there, holding everything down nicely and not shouting, "Hey, look at me!"