A very 1930's look is to use three strands of embroidery floss and do the blanket stitch. I grew up with Little Dutch Girl and Little Dutch Boy (most people call them Sunbonnet Sue and his brother, but our family didn't for some reason) and they were hand done with embroidery floss. Not sure how Grandmother did hers so they lasted through about a million washings and being on kid's beds---but it worked fine. I haven't had as much luck and use floss only on wall quilts but then, I don't like to applique.