I just finished a dresden plate top. I cut a circle template from plastic and traced the circle onto stabilizer. Then I layed the stabilizer on the fabric (right side up) and sewed around the circle.
Then I cut a slit in the stabilizer and turned inside out and ironed it. I pinned the dresden to my background fabric, pinned the circle in place and sewed it with a blanket stitch.
I posted a pic in pictures.