My first attempt...was only an attempt because I had no clue how to do it. I tried to make a hand appliqued quilt. Didn't have much $$ so used sheets and they were probably not cotton. It was a disaster. My next attempt about 20 years later was another applique and I did get pretty far with it, but it was not very pretty! I have since been more sucessful with machine applique. I never gave up! I am just now learning how to do hand applique...now that I am old and slow and much more patient!