One good way to do ANY applique is to place very light fabric - right sides together with dresden plate piece on top. Stitch around the ENTIRE PIECE. Cut a slit in the backing and turn all...press the two, being sure the very light fabric does not show. Blind stitch the finished edge of the dresden plate to the background.
Cut and wew on the center circle before or after you sew on the backing.
My sister uses this method when she is appliqueing ANY odd-shaped pieces, that way she gets good curves at all time, sewing all the way around, cutting the slit in the back, and turning She also does this with FUSIBLE FABRIC,
1) Fusing right sides together (putting the final placement of the fusible to the backing) or
2) Fusing wrong side of fusible to the right side of applique (putting the final placement of the fusible to the applique side. Method 2 will give a "pressed look" to the applique.
Try it, you will become a believer !!!!!!!!!!!!