The French word appliqué means "applied". Appliqué motifs are cut from one or more fabrics and are laid on top of a larger background fabric. Quilting does not require appliqué, but appliqué can add so much to the design. Finished appliqué quilts are quite beautiful. There are traditionally two methods of attaching the appliqué: 1) carefully turning the edges under to prevent fraying, sewing, usually by hand, using tiny invisible stitches; and 2) sewing around the raw edges with a Blanket stitch or Satin stitch. This technique is sort of a combination of both—the edges are all turned so there is no fraying but instead of being sewn by hand with invisible stitches, these techniques are done with an invisible machine stitch. www.quiltingwithnancy.com