Tracy_Lit5

What I do with the threads is this: when you cut the threads, leave long tails (about 4"). By hand, use a sewing needle to thread the top thread down to the bottom. Tie the 2 (now both on the bottom) together with one knot. Then use the sewing needle to thread the tails into the middle of the quilt and away from the knot as far as you can. Tug on the thread a little so that when you clip the tails off, they will hide into the fabric.

As for quilting the border, I think if you X stitch in the 9-block patches, that the border would look great with a meandering stitching in the John Deer border.

Nice quilt...my nephew would love it.

Appa Valley

Thanks everybody! I unfortunately don't have a metal rod for my machine, but I do like the idea of using painters tape.
I love the idea of furrows! May I ask what you mean by a winding row? Any pictures?
Would any of these in the picture below be what ya'll are talking about?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]389715[/ATTACH]
My machine doesn't have a scallop stitch on it but I thought that I could use a round jar or a glass as a template. Would that work?
I also like the idea of meandering but I don't have a darning or free-motion foot. Not to mention I've never fmq'd before, lol. For now I only have a straight stitch foot and a walking foot.

Thank you everyone for the thread tail advice, too. I found a video and a tutorial last night that might help others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3gl4K8Z7XM and http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2...-quilting.html

Forgot to say that I was also thinking of hand quilting around the applique.