Hi, After reading some of the replies, I agree that the stitch may be too tight, but I love the idea of slitting the back and making the bear into a trapunto block, then you would want the applique to pucker and stand out. Sounds like a cute quilt. I've been watching several sewing/quilting shows (we're retired and it passes time as well as giving me great inspiration, and they use the fusible, but before fusing, they cut out some of the fusible web so that it's just a half inch or so into the applique - saves fusible product and might help with the pucking. Hope this helps.