RedGarnet222

I think you did a great job one your first attempt at machine applique. You do need to match the thread to the farbric you are appliqueing and shorten both the width and length of your stitches to have better control and to make them disappear somewhat into the block. I had to test out my stitch length and width at first to see what was functional and pleasing to the eye. Then when you find the magic numbers you like, write them down and keep them where you can refer back to them when you are going to do this again. I keep a little binder of notes near my machine with lots of tried and true information, because I am an older lady and I can't remember everything! LOL ...

Here is one tip, you want the bite into the fabric to be a straight line into the fabric from the outside edge. So like some gals said, slow down and do one at a time if you need to on those sharp edges and you can slightly adjust where the needle is biting the fabric manually by moving the fabric so it will hit into the tip of the last stitch, doing this all the way around the curve will give it a clean finish. Also, you don't have to be stuck with someone else's design if it isn't working out well, change it by cutting it into a better curve. No one will die and probably even know. It isn't rocket science, right?