I am not the worlds greatest appliquer, but I use freezer paper always. I trace pattern onto paper, put on fabric, then iron edges down to paper, when I am about to close the gap sewing, I reach in and pull the freezer paper out with tweezers. then smooth down the hole and finish, I have never slit back ooo that would bother me. But as I said what do I know, I am a bad quilter all around, and those points in applique send me for a tail spin. lol