How to make machine embroidery look tidy

by Tessa
(Oxford, UK)

I am a beginner trying out the embroidery features on my new sewing machine. I am embroidering a 'picture' using the machine so am not embroidering in a continuous line but doing an outline and then putting various lines inside it.

If I backstitch at the beginning and end of every separate line to prevent fraying, it makes the whole thing look messy. This must be a very typical problem - what is the solution?

Many thanks for any advice. Tessa