there are as many answers to this as there are people who make 'sunbonnet sue' quilts- some people echo quilt around the appliques- then fill with a stipple; some people cross-hatch between their appliques, across the quilts; some echo then cross-hatch; some do a pattern-like feathers or a meandering with flowers, butterflies in the negative space around their appliques- there are as many choices as there are quilts. to 'try' different patterns to help you decide what YOU like you could use some 'Press & Seal' plastic- (or template plastic-anything you can draw on that's clear) draw a design you are considering onto it, lay it across the quilts & see if you like it- if not, try something else. or take a picture of the quilt, print it onto paper, making a few copies- then you can draw on them to *test* different patterns to see what you like