Ladies,
Forget about the hoop. If you are right handed, you will need your thumb and nail to hold the applique edge once it has been stroked into shape. I think the hoop would make this impossible and awkward.
Use very fine thread (Mettler with green label) or silk. Use a very sharp slender needle. Use the tiny white-headed applique pins and push the point to the back side while the head of the pin rests right against the applique piece. This will help keep from catching your thread. I find that the glue often gums up my needle.
To avoid tangles in your thread: The first end from the spool is the end that goes through the eye of the needle, the last end is the knotting end. Also, there is a thread conditioner in a tiny blue box called "
Thread Heaven". It is well worth the investment and lasts forever.
To start, your thread should be at the very edge of applique piece coming from the underside (start along a straight edge, if possible), your first stitch should be parallel to where it came through the edge. Your only forward stitch is on the bottom side of the base. Catch only a few threads of your applique piece. Take very small stitches. The back of your project should like like "chicken scratching". Also, take 4-5 stitches and then slide the needle a little along the thread. This will help avoid thread weak areas from your thimble. Honestly, I don't wear one while appliquing.
When you come to an inside point (or cleft as in a heart), take three slightly longer stitches (1-1/6" - 1/8") as there is no fabric to turn under. One stitch should be slightly to the left, one in the center and slightly to the right.
I know my message is long, but since my quilting preference is applique and have been at it for a long time, I felt to pass on some of my suggestions to newer appliquers.
I can also offer to show how to make perfect circles, if anyone is interested.
Hope this helps. Blessings, Suz