I am also dappling a little with applique. Thanks for the post.

I asked DH to flatten the end of a knitting needle and smooth it for me. Works great.

Thanks for all the awesome tips, so many things I've never thought about!

Does anybody have an issue putting a needle through and getting stuck trying to get through the glue? I could see it for the machine, but for hand?

The one pictured from Spain almost looks like the metal pressing bars used when making bias stems.

Try using a letter opener. They are inexpensive and sturdy for pushing down the fabric. An orange stick for finger nails would also work.

I use the Karen Kay Buckley spray starch / mylar template method for small pieces, like leaves, petals, etc. It's basically the same, but you use one of the cheapie craft paint brushes to "paint" the edges with spray starch and push the edge of the fabric over the template, then you use the tip of your iron to press the fabric. Work your way around the template, paint, push, press, until the whole piece is done. Take the mylar template out, turn the piece over and press to get a really sharp edge. I prep all my small pieces in this manner, organizing with ziplock bags per each block. Stems are done with bias bars, circles and ovals are done with KKB's Perfect Circles and Perfect Ovals, and large pieces (baskets, vases, etc.) are done either backbasting or plain old needleturn.

If the piece is big enough to turn you can just face with a second piece of fabric, sew around the applique, snip a hole in the back side and turn through the hole. It is faster and often easier than all the starching and gluing.

I use an orange stick that you find in the health and beauty aisle of most stores. If you google orange stick you will find pictures of them if you don't know what I'm talking about. It is used for manicures and to push cuticles back. It is a wooden dowel with a pointed end on one end and a slanted end on the other. The slanted end is a great tool for folding things over, holding things etc. They usually come 3-5 or more to a package and are quite inexpensive. I'm not sure why they are called orange sticks because they are not orange at all nor are they used for oranges!

So many good solutions.