Elmer's glue is my new BFF!
 

Recently we had a discussion on The Board about using Elmer's school glue instead of pins. Well, I just tried it on my i spy blocks that have been giving me fits (a simple 9-patch shouldn't be this tough). I'm doing the Happy Dance... my seams are all matching up nicely now. So I guess I'll rip out the first three blocks I made and redo them, now that I know how. Dontcha love it when something so simple makes such a difference?

Isn't it wonderful? :thumbup:

I love it too. It works great for matching prints for borders. I press under 1/2", then match it up, glue and press it, THEN I cut. Comes out perfect every time. :)

How do you use it. Do you have a link?

I would also like to hear more about Elmer's glue and quilting.

First I've heard too. Are you gluing before sewing a seam? If so, how does it come out and what does it do to your machine?

I'm a huge fan of Elmer's for my bindings. Nothing slips and I don't get poked. For those of you who have never heard of using it, check out Sharon Schamber using it for binding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc

Maryann- I would love to see a tutorial on this. Does anyone know of one?

Jenniky is leading us through QAYG blocks and in it we are exploring the use of glue instead of pins. Lots of discussion and lots of experienced quilters who use glue for basting/alignment/hold seams.

The glue comes out when you wash the quilt. It is important to press after you have glued it to dry and set it.

Here is the link for Jenniky's tutorial... http://www.quiltingboard.com/quiltin...e-t196192.html

You just use a fine line are even dots of the glue and then press with a hot iron no steam then sew and no it doesn't
are hasn't hurt any machine that I have ever heard of. It washes right out after you are finished with your quilt.
Hope this helps you.:)

I told this little tip to my sister and her friend a couple of years ago and they thought I was nuts until they tried it. Sometimes the simplest things are my best tools.

Glue sticks work the same way! I prefer them as there is less mess, and iron dry faster.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t195343.html

This is a link to a post I started about using Elmers Washable School Glue. I learned so much from everyones comments, ideas and suggestions. I now use Elmers glue for so many projects. It is amazing how fabulously it helps.

I am thrilled that your blocks worked out so perfectly! Like you, once I tried it and discovered its conveniences, I will use it from here on out!

Wonder how long it'll take, for someone to market the exact same stuff, as "sewing" glue . . . only priced much, much higher, of course. :p

Thank you for the info. Where was I when all this Elmer's glue talk was going on......napping, eating chocolate, seam ripping?

I have just finished 80x80 qayg quilt. 300 pieces - 100 front, 100 batting, and 100 backing. I used elmers glue (stick and bottle) to keep all sandwitches together while I quilted them. I used individual blocks to practice fmq so it was important for me that pieces for the sandwich do not move. It was amazing how well it worked. It washed out with not problems what so ever. My glue sticks were purple and my backing is off white, and I guarantee you it all got washed out. I used liquid Elmers after I ran out of glue sticks. I heard that Elmers works so well because it is really not glue but starch. I love it. I am planning to baste a large quilt with it as soon as i get enough time to actually do that.

I also love Elmer. Now that school supplies are on sale, I stocked up. I bought some glue sticks and was going to try it, so now I know! Thanks I never thought about sandwiching a quilt with it. Do you like it better than the 505.

I love using my glue stick. Makes my bindings come out perfect! No issues with my needles and it washes out. I also do my seams if I want it to be perfect.

I used the Elmer glue stick for ticker tape quilt blocks that I sewed as raw edge applique. It was great to have those pieces stay in place. I left the blocks for several months before sewing them down and they held. Great stuff.

So the elmers glue does not gum up on your needle?? wow, I think I may have to try this. I watched the tutorial on using the glue on binding, I always have trouble keeping my edges straight when joining ends, now I know how to fix that!!!

I have never used spray adhesive for number of reasons including cost. I have yet to baste an entire large quilt sandwich with Elmers but I think that if price is not an issue spray may be easier to apply. I will (I hope) baste my latest quilt sometimes this week using Elmer's and I will post my experience. Wish me luck. It is certainly bigger than qayg blocks I did but the principle is the same. Longer drying period maybe?

I want to emphasize that I have always read to use Elmer's SCHOOL glue rather than the regular Elmer's glue. The school glue is made differently (made with starch) and does wash out completely. I have a Bernina 440QE and this gluing technique has not caused any problems at all with my machine. (I wanted to clarify this since some of the posts have not spelled out both words (Elmer's School) but I am assuming that is what is meant. Please let me know if I am wrong!)

I use Quilter's Basting Glue but Elmers is just as good. Used a ton of it just yesterday. My new best friend too.

Yes, be sure it's the WASHABLE SCHOOL GLUE. I just finished a baby quilt using the binding UTube video, and unknowingly I started out using the regular Elmer's. Luckily, I noticed early on, that it felt differently...too sticky and stiff. So I checked the bottle and realized my mistake. As soon as I changed to the school glue it worked beautifully, and the binding turned out the best ever...straight and even. This was the second time I've used it for binding and never want to go back the the clipping or pinning method.

I would like to know how you used it to sew your block seams together? Did you just glue the two blocks first and then sew?

That's already happened. :) Roxanne Glue-Baste-It does the same thing but costs more. The advantage is it comes with the thin metal tip like Sharon Schamber uses. I've found the regular container of Elmer's puts more glue on me than on the project but the thin metal tip is great. An alternative is an Elmer's Glue Pen. The only place I've been able to find it is Walmart's and the tip isn't as thin as the one on Roxanne's but is much neater than the regular Elmer's.

Can you refill your thin tip bottle with Elmer's School Glue?

This thread has been very helpful!

I've learned two things: A little glue goes along way. Keep the lid on tight so the glue stick does not dry out (just like kindergarden)

Would any water soluble glue work? We don't have Elmer's in my country as far as I know. I have used regular glue sticks successfully.

Who would ever thought quilters would be using glue! I use a glue stick to tack down pieces when I paper piece.

Thanks for the reminder about using glue. I am repairing some clothing for my SIL and several pieces are really stretchy, slippery knits. I botched one already, sewing it crooked. DUH! I completely forgot about the Elmer's.....

Yes indeed! I'm getting me some!

I would try a glue that is as close to Elmer's School Glue as possible. It should be washable, acid free, nontoxic. Apparently Elmer's is made with starch and that's why it works best for us.

Glue sticks are nice; however, they dry out too fast and cost more. If a bottle starts drying out you can just add a tiny bit of water - glue sticks don't play nice that way.

I would think so....pm your address and I'll be happy to mail you a couple of bottles of Elmer's School glue free !
You will love it...

Wow...another use for school supplies. I'll have to add this to my arsenal (sewing stuff).
Thanks for the tip...I am learning so much! Now if I just had the time to USE it.

Thank you so much for sharing this video again. I just finished a project where I should have used this method. Hopefully I'll remember it for my next one. What a great problem solver.

I bought the Roxanne's baste it and the tip is wonderful. I plan to use Elmer's washable school glue when the container is empty. I may have to thin it a bit with water.

Would it work on applique? It sounds like it would be easier than using fusible web.

Try putting your glue sticks in a ziploc bag and keeping it in your fridge until you need them!!!!:eek: