Donna, this is what I do, draw your pattern on the fabric, do not cut it out,cut out all your appliques,place them on the pattern that you drew and glue them in place with glue stick, let dry then cut your pattern out, but not on the lines, in a large enough square that you can handle it as you zig-zag it on your machine. when all applique is done, I press the pattern piece, then cut it on the pattern lines and go from there.