Exactly the same if possible. The fabric will scrunch in the hand . I would fusible backing onto the background. You may find it easier to either divide and doing small cut sizes which you can join and cover seam with more applique or use the machine applique with invisible thread.
Look at my avatar that was hand needle turned reverse appliqué originally . Which I put machine stitching on at a later stage as I liked the additional line of machine fancy stitch.