I am just beginning applique, and I am learning on my own. I just finished a Halloween wallhanging that I did a blanket stitch in black on all the appliques. I think I learned from that, that black looks great, but not the color to use on everything. The question for now is: You know you place applique pieces in a certain order, well on the first wallhanging I done, I placed all of my pieces and then I did the stitching. Is it easier to stitch as you go even though parts of the pieces will be covered by other pieces? And what is the trick to keeping your stitches even and going around all those curves? Is that another practice, practice, practice thing? Thanks in advance for your help.