it depends on the look I want. I did one with trees in the background and used many different pieces of green = I left that one raw edged to get some texture. Many things I will do satin stitch on because I want it finished and to make the applique stand out more. If I do use raw edge, I sometimes stitch a quarter inch inside the edge to give me a certain look....again - think about the look you want. Satin stitching makes a more finished and one-dimensional look, in my opinion.