Tip trade?

I'm trying to figure out how much sewing down I need to do with my fused applique for a wall-hanging, ain't going to be washed application. I am experimenting with blind stitch with monofilament, but the whole thing? Would freemotion over the surface tack it down enough, or would the edges gap between stitch lines? Not so sure... Ideas would be MOST welcome!

Anyway, here's one thing that I have worked out for myself - I might be reinventing the wheel here, but it might be unknown to *someone*, eh? What is it? Scotch tape. I draw lots of my patterns on copy paper, and then want to cut them out, but how to keep intersecting curves consistent? How to make sure it all goes back the way it is supposed to with matching cut lines? I cut it up in one way (say along the diagonal lines) then tape it back together, then cut along the curved spiral that intersects all of the diagonals. How the heck does it make sense to cut lines and then tape them back together again? Because after I have cut the spiral, I can very easily tear the tape out along the previous cut lines, and voila - perfectly fitting pieces! It works for me, and maybe it will work for you. Added bonus? I get reinforced templates for all those finicky points and isthumi! (What a word! Yikes!)