I have used lots of stencils-some plastic cut outs I purchased (use a chalk ponce or special pen/pencil), I also have made my own, copying a design on paper and sewing over the lines with a fat machine needle and no thread and using them with chalk pounce. I have also used a light box to copy designs on the quilt top before sandwiching. I also have just free-hand stippled. Besides SID and outlining, I guess I have done it all. It all works-just have to decide what method would be best for the design you want for a particular quilt.