If you can't take a class from a teacher, I suggest you try to find some DVDs, rather than books. For hand applique, I would suggest Pearl P. Pereira or Karen Kay Buckley. You need to remember that there are many different methods of preparing your pieces -- needleturn, template and starch, back basting. There is no "right way", but many methods. Explore them all and decide what works best for you. I sometimes use more than one method in the same block. Search YouTube for tutorials.