I don't use a hoop for needle turn applique, but I do use silk thread in a neutral and straw needles.

I had no luck turning fabric with a needle so I also use a round toothpick. The gal who taught the class I took advised us to keep the toothpick in our mouth to keep it wet and it grabs the fabric better. Sounds a little gross, but works for me.

No hoop for me.

Use starch (lots of it)... freezer paper, heat and bond, or drafting your templates onto card stock and spray starching lightly/pressing to hold the shape in place.

Reverse applique gives nicer results when you're working with hard shapes and you can barely see the stitches on the reverse applique.

I am working on Reverse Applique right now, the only complaint it takes too long.

Leave a good seam allowance for your needle turn applique until you feel that you can master the technique, then later you can narrow down the seam allowance for needle turning; and make it a habit to use glue (glue sticks) for holding the applique fabric in place instead of using straight pins or thread basting.

Practice and don't give it up!

Wow! Thanks for these tips. I've usually done the freezer paper on the bottom, basting the seam allowance to the freezer paper and then basting the piece to the background method. But it's so time and energy consuming! I've lately started gluing the pieces to the background and machine sewing the pieces to thin interfacing and turning the piece inside out. I'm going to see if I can graduate to needleturn with these tips, to save time and my poor thumb.

without the hoop, you'll get better results. It takes practice. LOTS of it for some quilters. Be patient. Youtube has several videos.