Thanks everyone! It's looking like embroidery first is best. Noella, I studied the Dresden Plate and Grandmother Fan designs and experimented until I got the shape I wanted. I cut a rectangle, folded it in half, sewed across at one end 1/4", trimmed at the fold area, turned it right side out, ironed so the point was centered, then cut the sides off holding the cardboard template I made over it.
Thank you all ... I appreciate your help and will explore that stem stitch, toolazy. It sounds like the most durable choice.