I made AFOTH a couple of years back. This is how I dealt with all the embroidery work,I drew on the reverse side of my block with white pencil, as my quilt was done on navy blue, then I wound bobbins with DMC gold thread, and once the block was completed, just followed my white lines with the sewing machine. I didn't have to change the tension or needle, just carefully stitched. It does take a bit of practice, but turned out very well for me. There are probably pictures on QB of it not completed at 2011. See picture at:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/blocks-...95413-101.html