I think some of you are making the Elmer's School Glue basting a lot harder, than it has to be. It doesn't have to be evenly distributed, over the entire surface . . . and any small blobs will settle, when you smooth the top/backing to the batting. The dried glue is a bit firm but shouldn't be hard/dense enough, to disturb a machine needle. I've never had any trouble, sewing right through it.