I love hand appliqué and do the back basting method. You draw the shape on the back of the background fabric and lay a piece of the appliqué fabric on the top side large enough to cover the shape but not cut out. Then baste the two fabrics together from the back side following the drawing. Now turn it over and cut out the appliqué piece on the front leaving a 3/8 " or so allowance around the basting. Than begin the appliqué by taking out a couple of the basting stitches and using the holes as a guide, turn under the fabric and sew down. Doing just a few stitches at a time keeps any material from fraying (even silk) and it is very portable. No precutting, no starching, just sewing. It doesn't work for every pattern but does for most.