Elmers Glue and FMQ Question
 

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?

I've just used glue for basting for the first time and had no problem with FMQ. Okay, I'm a beginner anyway and encountered enough problems with manoeuvring a whole quilt on my DMS. My suggestion: Why don't you use a trial block, make a quilt sandwich and try it out?

I am not one to use Elmer's glue for basting but I think I read here that you dilute it with water. I would use a washable glue stick and NOT the glue to temporarily hold your melon in place.

I don't dilute my glue with water and I don't spray it on. We've had some recent discussions on this if you want to put glue basting or elmers, or some combination into the search function. Most of us use it to replace pin basting which means we drizzle it on in a grid pattern about the same distance apart that pins would go. I've done over 10 quilts this way and have never had a gummed or broken needle and the sewing machines don't have a problem, at least in my experience. You do have to let the glue dry. If there is a glob from the drizzling, as I am doing it, while it is wet, I just smush it with my finger and move on. There are several of us who have wrist, hand, carpal tunnel, etc. issues and they dilute and either paint on or spray on. that is always a possibility. The rest of us just drizzle from the bottle. Let us know how it works for you!!

You don't need to trim anything. I use Elmer's all the time, both for piecing blocks and basting the quilt sandwich. I don't dilute the glue, and it works beautifully for both.

I use a bottle with a thin tip for piecing and run a very thin line like you did, close to the edge, and then hit it with a hot iron for a couple seconds. Quick and accurate piecing!

If you should make a mistake and line up the edges crooked, just carefully pull them apart and try again.

For basting, I use a bottle that I got at Sally Beauty supply and snipped the tip off so that the hole's a little bit bigger than the one on the glue bottle, and drizzle it on.

When it's dry, the needle goes through like butter; there's no problem at all with those stiff edges or spots, and it all washes completely out when the quilt is done.

I love glue basting. The only problem I have ever had is if there is a lump of dried glue. I dilute my glue and glue all over in a random squirting pattern. When I am pressing the fabric on, I make certain any large globs of glue are pressed flat. It does get stiff but the needle goes right thru. Of course, I always wash the glue out once the quilt is done.

Thanks to each of you! That was a great idea to make a small quilt out of one sample block and then quilt it. It will give me so much more confidence.
Alice

The question was about basting seams, not about spreading glue onto batt. When I drizzle glue onto the batt, it usually beads up. I run my finger along that line to get rid of the beads and there are no big hard spots left.

I have never used glue to baste seams, but there were a few times I should have.

I won't baste any other way other then using Elmer's Washable glue. The only problem I find now and then is if a bubble of glue wasn't smoothed out and dried flat. I have glued an entire blocks together before sewing. That blocks sewed up perfectly and exactly the same size. I don't dilute unless squeezing for basting. I use a tiny amount of water for it to flow smoothly.

The only problem I can see with glue basting seams would be if you choose to press your seams open after construction. I have never had any issues sewing through any areas that have been glue basted and I have probably used glue to baste 7-8 quilts. I don't dilute, just straight from the bottle.

As SherylM said, some people use a fine tip for putting a fine line or a series of drops of glue for applique, etc. There's been threads on where to find them, I don't have one because I use washable glue for basting only. Love using it.

Tate

I would never use glue for basting. I may use a glue stick lightly for applique', but not for overall basting. I have seen the glue 'painting' method, but would not consider that either. Each to their own preferred method as to what works best for them.....I find the spray basing best for me.

Back to the original question....

I occasionally use glue instead of pins. I hope you're using washable Elmer's, not the regular Elmer's. Believe me, there is a difference. :hunf:

After I get the seam sewn to my satisfaction, I'll separate the seams with an awl. Sometimes I need to give it a dab of water to soften the glue. I use a teensy tiny dot of glue, smaller than the head of my applique pins, and have never had issues with the quilting process.

I've been in quilting classes where we were told to use fabric glue sticks for the project and it really was easier and faster. I haven't ever used Elmer's. Just to be on the safe side, I'd double check and make sure it won't gum it your machine first.

I've never had any problems with my machine, rhythm, or anything else with glue basting. I've never used it to put pieces together. I wouldn't use anything else to sandwich a quilt. It's so easy and works great.

This sounds intriguing, but wouldn't the quilt have to be washed after completion?

I always wash my quilts after they are done and the glue has always washes out just fine.

Remember to only use enough glue to hold the item still (regardless of making a sandwich or applique), not to hold it for life. If you encounter blobs ( after dried, it's a different situation ), smooth with a finger, only use as much as necessary and then use a little less. Always wash quilt when finished.

If sandwiching quilt, drizzle on batting, then smooth on fabric, press to help dry faster.
On applique, just use a tiny dot in strategic locations, entire applique does not have to be glued, only enough so it won't slide around while trying to sew, either by hand or machine.

Purchasing specific glue or glue sticks may only be a advertising issue, the Elmer's Washable School Glue, is pretty close to the cheapest. Get it in the Fall when school supplies go on sale or buy it by the gallon (it will last forever so the price is worth it). Water it down, spray it on, dot it, drizzle it, whatever works for you, just do it!! LOL

I have used the glue sticks in place of pinning and for applique and it works great. I have never tried in place of basting with spray glue but plan to try. I have read about using half glue and half water and spraying it on. Has anyone used that method? If so I would be interested in hearing about the results they had with that method as well.

I use straight Elmer's glue for sandwiching my quilts. But for applique &/or basting quilt blocks together I use the glue stick. Mainly because I don't have to wait for it to dry.

I believe Sharon Schamber sells the tips on her site but when I looked at them they were very pricey. I found a two-pack of small plastic bottles with fine tips at Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars and they work great. The tips are so fine that I was afraid they would get clogged, but they don't. The glue doesn't even seem to stick to the inside of the tip, plus they have little caps that are "tethered" to the bottles so they don't go missing.

I use a glue tip applicator bottle. It's about 2 ounces of glue with a teaspoon or so of water. The needle tips are BLUNT and can be changed to whatever size you like. It has a luer connector which means it screws on like a syringe needle but again is BLUNT. Works like a charm. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Bottle-Pla...item27dc5b6ea6

A few weeks ago someone mentioned diluting the glue with water in a spray bottle. I would appreciate the ratio of water to glue that is suggested. I am sure you must thoroughly rinse the sprayer each time with water but I also wonder if you can leave the water/glue mix in the sprayer or if you need to rinse all of it out each time.

I tried the glue basting and didn't dilute. What I did use was after applying the glue, a paint brush to kind of smooth it out a little so it wasn't so concentrated and get lumpy. After the sandwich was together, I took a blow dryer. A fan works also when you need to multi-task.

I only ever do it first on a test block before the full deal. Make a note and pin it to the test block every step from beginning to end.

Alice, try "dotting" rather than a line......unless you have a really super fine line, it gets a little more glue than you need...just put dots where a pin hole would be if you were pinning. Works for me.

I use glue all the time in my piecing process. I too try to keep the glue to a minimum and outside the stitching line as to not gum up my machine needle. When I go to quilt it I have not found any issues when I hit the glue areas........so far but then I use robotics in my quilting so I wouldn't know if and when I hit an area anyway. So far I don't see any problems with the quilt stitches. I also use the glue while applying the binding on before I take it to the machine to stitch down. Saves having to use pins and pricking myself leaving blood on the quilt. I then wash the quilt to remove any glue, markings, etc. before I give it to the recipent.

I started using glue to baste when I was doing a lot of tiny pieces in applique, and have not had any kind of problem with it whatsoever. It was a natural progression for me to move on with it to piecing blocks and getting things lined up more accurately than I could with pins. I have not used the school glue to baste a quilt together, but I am sure it will work just fine

If you put your Elmer's school glue in a condiment bottle like they sell for picnic use, the glue flows better, and it is much easier on your hands since you don't need to squeeze it so hard. I use one that has its own cap so it will not dry out, and buy my glue by the gallon online to refill it.

Thanks for all the comments and wonderful insights, all you gals are super!

That's a good idea about using a condiment bottle because I do have trouble squeezing the Elmer's glue bottle. Thanks for the tip. I do like using the glue.

I have used Elmers School Glue to baste ny last 8 quilts. Like other i use a hot iron to help smooth and dry the glue. I use it straight from the bottle. The downside is you have to wait for your quilt to dry. I usually let it sit overnight. The plus side is it is so inexpensive. About 1 or 2 dollars a quilt. The other plus is you don't have the horrible spray basting 505 smell. I use Crayola markers to mark my quilt as well. Saving money on basting and marking, means more money for threads and fabrics. Were retired. I have to stetch my dollars. When the binding is complete, I wash the quilt. This allows me to check for any boo boos.



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tstraight

Always wash the quilt when completed - that's what I was taught and what most everyone else does too as far as I can see. It takes out the basting (spray, glue, etc.) and whatever else - just freshens it up.

I'd like to revive this thread. I tried using elmer's school glue to baste and sandwich a quilt. I watered it down so that it would flow smoothly and thinly and put it on my backing fabric and batting. After it dried, it made the fabric stiff...very stiff. I pulled it apart, threw away the batting and washed the backing fabric several times, line drying each time to avoid shrinking. After 5 washings, the backing fabric is still stiff with glue residue. Is my fabric now a total loss? Any other ideas on how to get this glue out? Thanks for all of your help.

~ C

i posted up thread about this but Im still going strong with glue basting. Im maybe 25-30 quilts in. Somw
of them queen sized. I do not water it down. I sit the small bottle in a bowl of very warm water which makes it drizzle easier. I just drizzle it in a
thin bead on the cotton batting - I pull down the backing or top about halfway and drizzle - if there is a glob I smooth with my finger and keep a damp
cloth handy. Then I smooth that part over
the glue. It is easy to reposition. Then slide the quilt and go around the table to other side and do the same thing. Drizzle and smooth. Then flip over and do other side. When it is dry it does not gum up the needle.

Are you sure it was the washable school glue? It always washes out of my quilts. Sometimes I presoakl them for 15 minutes. Let me know if I can help more. I have had zero issues with this.

Also it doesn’t have to cover the entire quilt. Consider it a replacement for pin basting. I do a grid or sometimes a big meander.

It sounds like you used something other than Elmers Washable Glue. I've never had a problem with Elmers not washing out. I use warm water to wash my quilts. I think someone else on this board had a problem like you and they discovered they had used some other type of Elmers. Maybe they have similar packaging making it difficult to tell difference in which kind of glue it is?

I use glue exclusively, even for applique. It is always stiff, so make sure you are leaving room for any hand stitching, and work around it, (I even sew through it on my machine with no problems. Everything washes out the first time I wash it. I wash every quilt before gifting to also check for any “bad spots” so I can fix them before gifting.

I'd never used glue until I went to a demonstration at one of the national quilt shows. That experience changed by quilting life. I use Elmer's school glue and only the school glue. It's the washable one. I use it full strength and have a bottle with a very thin tube to apply it. I apply the glue to the seam allowance but never on the seam itself so I'm not really sewing through the glue. That fine tube really helps with that.

I always heat set the glue and if I lined things up wrong, I can pull it apart and reglue it. I've never had a problem with it being lumpy or hard. Mitered corners always match perfectly now. Stripes are easy to match and any seam that has to fit perfectly always does.

Tropit, how did you apply the glue? The first time (and last)
I applied it with a brush it was like a large piece of plywood and
definitely not fun to quilt.
Never had a problem watering the glue down. Of course you don't
want it like lemonade. It has to be fairly liquid but not too much.
I like it the consistency of heavy cream. I use a small glue bottle
with the nozzle and just apply it like drawing waves on the
batting. Then I just smooth the excess with my finger. Try it on
scraps until you find what works for you.

I'm sure that I used Elmer's Washable School Glue. I no longer have the bottle, but I recall that it had a blackboard on the label. I added about 25% water and rolled it on with a bottle roller in a random pattern. I usually start by putting the quilt top down first, but luckily, I started with the backing this time, so I hadn't put any glue on my top yet. I've washed it several times and even let it soak for a few hours. Much of it came out, but it's still stiff in places. I think that I'm just going to trim off the unaffected edges of the backing and throw the rest away. Sad, but a lesson learned.

~ C