Many Happy Returns, Roxanne, have a lovely day.
Candi, I just tried to pull a knot through, using my embroidery needle and the two strands and it wouldn't go, though I think you might get away with it using a bigger needle to make that first hole to get the knot through, then changing to the regular needle you would normally use.
Failing that, perhaps you could start on the back with two tiny stitches instead of a knot, and hiding those stitches in the back of your satin stitch where you can. I think they all touch an applique shape at one point or another.