Pennyhal

What I don't like is when the applique is large and applied before quilting. It can leave large areas that aren't quilted and those areas get baggy and sort of hang out from the quilt. When the appliques are small, it doesn't leave large areas unquilted. I've seen quilts that have actually lightly quilted on top of the applique too, but quilted the applique to emphasize the shapes of the applique. So, I think it is simply a matter of preference. If you are going to show the quilt, perhaps you can ask the judges at the show what they look for.