I use Heat N Bond lite for applique but when you cut out the piece of HNB before you peel one side off and iron it to the back side of the fabric, cut the bulk of the center of the piece out so you just have an outline of the shape rather than a solid shape to iron on the fabric. That way the center of the applique piece isn't stiff/bulky so if you want to fmq over it, it's not too thick. Your quilt is beautiful.