I'm a glue baster all the way. Once I tried it I never went back to another method. Washable school glue is always on my Christmas list. I too hold the bottle up about 6" or so above my quilt bat so that I get a thin stream of glue going and then do it in a zig zag pattern on the bat. By putting it on the bat I don't have to worry about it seeping through the fabric onto the surface that my quilt is laying on. I've never had any problem with it gumming up my needle or machine. If you haven't used this method, give it a try.