a nice zz for a beginner is great. A satin st has to be practiced.
If you get to clost you get knots and it looks bad till you practice and get it just right, I think you was wise to zz for the first time.
you can also use decorative stitches to do appliques... and you might want to try steam a seam lite also... then you do not have fuzzy edges between the zz.
Benn teaching this for years so any questions, PM me