Basting with Elmers Glue
 

Quick question, I just tried for the first time the Elmer's glue diluted with 1 part water. I sprayed in on the batting and smoothed the back over it last night and let it dry overnight. I notice this morning that you can still pull the batting away from the backing. Did I not use enough glue as am wondering how this will stay together once I start pulling it around on my sewing machine. Does anyone baste around the outside of the whole quilt before they start quilting it? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have used the Elmers method, but I did not dilute it. I just held the bottle a little higher and let the glue make a thin squiggly line on the batting then put on the top/or bottom and then smoothed it out, worked great.

Sounds like the glue did not dry completely. Did you have the glue side down over night and/or is your air humid? You could turn the quilt over to let more air get to the glued side (running a fan might help it dry faster), or you could iron that side of the quilt (if you have used 100% polyester batting, be sure to keep the iron only moderately hot so you don't melt the batting!). The glue is supposed to be dry before you quilt.

I didn't dilute it, worked wonderfully.

Since you sprayed it, it's too thin to glue the two together. You need thin lines of glue. It does not need to cover the entire surface. The lines should be anywhere from 4 to 6 inches apart.

Agreed.....do not dilute....straight from the bottle, held about 1 to 1-1/2 feet from batting, tip wide open.....squeeze and make thin lines about 3-4" apart onto the batting.....pat down the top/backing, making sure to get all areas....either iron glue dry or let air dry......I practice the KISS method (Keep it simple, silly) ....you don't have to make it harder by diluting the glue or trying to spray it, or by spreading the glue thinner.....little blobs of glue get smashed flat when you pat down the fabric onto the batting and you can quilt right through them when completely dry......if you have enough glue, the layers will not pull apart or move.....I baste around the outer edge of quilt top (before sandwiching) to stop any stretching or seams pulling loose....it isn't necessary 100% of the time, but works for me.

Yes, I did leave the quilt lay on the table overnight to dry and it is not humid here yet this time of the year. This morning I used the glue stick on the front side and that seems to be working better. So I may have to reglue the backing after this gets dry. Thanks for all your hints everyone and happy sewing!

What kind of batting did you use?

I dilute the glue with water (more than 1:1) and didn't have any problem.
I apply the glue to the batting in grid lines or with a paint brush then
smooth the top or backing over the batting and iron it dry.

I don't dilute. Just like some of the above posters - drizzle a thin bead in a sort if grid. No ironing. I am using a bamboo and cotton bating and it is sticking fine. It's Elmer's washable school glue

I just can't bring myself to use the Elmer's glue - I pin baste and don't have any issues with it.