I would use a cut away and hoop the item. Add a layer of water solvable topping and then stitch out the design. The WSS topping prevents the stitches from sinking into the material.
when finished cut the cut away from the back. Leave about 1/2 inch. Iron a thin fusible like no show mesh or sheer magic over the stitched design ( on the back).
It will keep the threads from being scratchy.