I am appliquing while watching Penn State U football. And thought of two more things.
I have an old throw pillow on my lap (which is really an oversized pincushion) and pin to it about 3" from where I am working. This pinning acts as a third hand and will help you control where you are stitching and give you a little resistance. And having the pillow on your lap will bring your work closer to you which you will enjoy. --- Once you take this pillow as a pincushion, do not use it for decorating. You will lose needles in it and could be unsafe to others to sit on.
And I find I use my forefinger and thumb on the needle hand to turn the edge of the applique piece. If you turn under too much, it is easy to stroke the piece to the correct position.
Hope I haven't been too wordy. Sorry, if I have.