I don't think you can hand applique on a hoop..I could be wrong but I have not seen it in any books...I use needle turn now but when I started I used freezer paper and starched the seams down...I sort of grew into a new phase as I felt more comfortable and it became easier...when I first read to make seams less that 1/4 inch I thought that was crazy ...I thought more would have been easier, now I can handle a very narrow seam...it gets easier and easier...you have to experiment...I have tried pins...1/2 inch pins are good..I have used glue...I have tried the basting down method...I tried big needles, thin needles, long and short...all types of thread..e.tc...I took a lot of advice from Sue Garman's instructions and I found it to be helpful...my first attempt at applique was her Hugs and Kisses BOM on the Quilt show and my first 3 blocks were so bad I redid parts of them over...they looked good in the beginning,then as I got better, I realized how bad they were...