the september issue of martha stewart living had this great little "how-to" on no-sew embroidery. their simplified approach to "couching" as it's called, involves using cording and fabric glue and a little disappearing-ink. (a marker and graph paper are also used to map out a design). you basically draw out your design on the graph paper, using the grid to make sure it's uniform and then trace with a disappearing ink onto the fabric. go over the traced letters with the fabric glue and carefully arrange the cording over the glue. (to prevent fraying, treat all cut ends of cording with a dab of fabric glue).