You really need to see Nancy Lee Chong's video on Hawaiian quilting (Pacific Rim) you can buy it from her for the most up to date one or you can get it from the public library. It is a fantastic video - she shows you every little detail - about 1 hour or longer video. The cutting out of the pattern is a fairly rough cut because it includes the seam allowance and you follow the curve when you do the needle turn applique so your seam allowance does not need to be perfect.