I just want to add the the uses for starch. I buy liquid starch and pour a little into a very small dish, and using a little paintbrush, I paint it onto the edges of my appliqué pieces.
Cut out appliqués shapes of freezer paper, press them, shiny side down on the back of the fabric. Cut fabric 1/4" away from edge of freezer paper. Use paintbrush to paint liquid starch on edges of fabric, then fold fabric over edge of freezer paper, and press with a hot iron (a stiletto, skewer, or seam ripper makes this easier and prevents burnt fingers). When I am finished with all of my pieces, I use Elmer's school glue to glue the pieces in place, then hand sew them down in front of the TV in the evenings. I know that this is not the original way to do appliqué, but needle turn and I do not get along (Coordination issues here).