Elmers Glue and FMQ Question
09-03-2020, 05:39 AM
#41
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 114
Elmer's Glue Tips
I am experimenting with using glue instead of pins during the piecing process of my quilt. It is a mellon quilt. I lightly glue the outside edge of the seam, then stick the pieces of fabric together (not gluing near the actual sewing line - only along the outside edge of the piece) It works nicely, but I have noticed that as the glue dries (even though it is only a tiny bit of glue) it makes the outside edge of the sewn together pieces hard. My question is what happens after you have prepared the quilt to be quilted. As your needle goes along and hits those hard places, is your rhythm thrown off? If so, does this lead to jurky movements and lines? I was thinking about cutting the 1/16th to 1/8th inch glued area away before FMQ but am wondering if this might compromise the seams. I am still working on sample blocks before I actually start the real quilt. Have any of you noticed any trouble with the FMQ process (as it goes over the glued seams) when it comes to actually quilting the quilt?
09-03-2020, 06:21 AM
#42
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
I have been using glue basting for a while now and love it for FMQ. I have had no trouble with glue that has set up firm sewing through it with no difficulty. It washes right out and my quilts have been perfect. I see me glue basting for a very long time to come. I would suggest you go a bit slower when you get to the harder areas. I always slow down when I get to one. The other thing I have done is use a wet rag to soften the glue area that works too to make your machine needle go through with no difficultly, not wet just moist.
09-03-2020, 10:10 AM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: California, USA
Posts: 1,318
Okay, let me see if I understand what I am reading. You say you all are qlueing the seams for a block together, instead of using pins? Really? How long do you have to wait to sew your block together? Do you glue one piece, wait till it is dried, then glue the next piece of the block, etc until the block is finished? Doesn't that take a lot longer to make a block?
Other than not getting bitten by the pins, etc, what is the advantage to this method? I must really be behind the times.
Other than not getting bitten by the pins, etc, what is the advantage to this method? I must really be behind the times.
09-03-2020, 10:13 AM
#44
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,315
Okay, let me see if I understand what I am reading. You say you all are qlueing the seams for a block together, instead of using pins? Really? How long do you have to wait to sew your block together? Do you glue one piece, wait till it is dried, then glue the next piece of the block, etc until the block is finished? Doesn't that take a lot longer to make a block?
Other than not getting bitten by the pins, etc, what is the advantage to this method? I must really be behind the times.
Other than not getting bitten by the pins, etc, what is the advantage to this method? I must really be behind the times.
09-03-2020, 12:55 PM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,557
I was thinking the same thing. I had a bottle of what I *thought* was washable glue, but after my disaster, I double-checked the label, it said "Elmer's School Glue" but nowhere did it say "washable". I threw it out because who needs that??!?! Lol.
Nope. It's actually faster and more accurate, which is why I glue instead of pin. I use a tiny drop, about the size of the head of a glass pin. As has been said, you can dry it with the tip of a hot iron in seconds. When I'm making miniature quilts, or something where I want a high degree of accuracy, gluing is more reliable than pinning, because the pins can shift as I sew.
Okay, let me see if I understand what I am reading. You say you all are qlueing the seams for a block together, instead of using pins? Really? How long do you have to wait to sew your block together? Do you glue one piece, wait till it is dried, then glue the next piece of the block, etc until the block is finished? Doesn't that take a lot longer to make a block?
09-03-2020, 01:18 PM
#46
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,315
Elmer's washable school glue says it on the label. Honestly to me it is my best quilting hack. I won't baste any other way. I don't use it for seam matching, because for some reason I can manage without it, but the basting the quilt sandwich was a game changer for me.
09-03-2020, 08:13 PM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: California, USA
Posts: 1,318
Nope. It's actually faster and more accurate, which is why I glue instead of pin. I use a tiny drop, about the size of the head of a glass pin. As has been said, you can dry it with the tip of a hot iron in seconds. When I'm making miniature quilts, or something where I want a high degree of accuracy, gluing is more reliable than pinning, because the pins can shift as I sew.
Mary Ann
09-04-2020, 07:10 AM
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SW, MI
Posts: 827
I use washable Elmers school glue sticks. I just do a little twist on the fabric to match the seams when needed. HOWEVER, in the class I learned this one of the quilters brought along 'purple' glue, then took it to the iron. The purple never did come out!!!! It was on white material, but it says it drys clear.
09-04-2020, 04:40 PM
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,937
A reminder...back to school is a good time to get elmer's glue at discounts.
I use dots of full strength elmers,,,,no problem with it. I fill a glue baste it bottle with elmers and keep quilting.
best wishes
I use dots of full strength elmers,,,,no problem with it. I fill a glue baste it bottle with elmers and keep quilting.
best wishes
09-04-2020, 06:27 PM
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: California, USA
Posts: 1,318
I just watched a couple of You Tube videos on glue basting and I am really impressed. I think that I will start doing that type of sewing. I use clips for a lot of my pinning and now with the glue basting, I will be very happy to put my straight pins aside (except for the times when you really have to use pins).
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