I knew it was a good idea to ask here! You guys are a treasure trove of information.
Thanks for the different suggestions on trying different stitches to see which one I like best; that hadn't occurred to me and it would be a good thing to know before hand. And also to try out different sizes before hand and then get fabric cut out and ready so I don't need to worry about doing that when I'm recovering.
I will keep you guys posted! I have about 2 months to get stuff prepped and ready and do some practicing.