Originally Posted by TanyaL

Do you use your decorative stitches to create an over all pattern similar to eyelet? I've tried that, but so few of my stitches seem to have the weight needed to show up against the fabric. They just don't make an impact. I only have a half dozen stitches to choose from that give the effect I want and I don't like to repeat them that often. It frustrates me. Have you purchased patterns to use in an all over pattern of stitches? I'm finding that if I embroider my fabric first, then cut out my pattern I can get a better result. Otherwise if I wait to embroider after the applique is assembled them I am essentially embroidering accents on it. Two different results and I am using both. I have found this is very time consuming. It's taking me a full day to complete one block.