Do you know the way to applique?

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Yeah, that song is stuck in my head now too.  Thanks, me.

I’ve started a quilt that is really out of my comfort range.  It’s almost all applique.  Here is the first of the two different blocks that make up this quilt:

I’m torn as to how to applique these intricate, curly pieces on.  I don’t want to turn under the seam allowance; that would take me forever and I just don’t have that kind of patience.

So I’m going to fuse these pieces and machine stitch them onto the background.  My question is what kind of stitch would work?  I’ve done buttonhole applique before, but I just don’t think it’s right for this fancy style of block.  I’m tempted to try raw-edge applique like Kelly does (from Don’t Look Now), but I’m scared that it will fray at the edges.  I’m not sure I want to use invisible thread, I’ve used it before and it’s kind of poky and shiny.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Peggi, I love, love, love this applique! You know, I’ve heard that MonoPoly has really changed their thread, and it’s not so “shiny” anymore. You know me – I don’t do applique much (you are the applique queen of the two of us!), but this certainly makes me want to try again!