the other day i had an opportunity to visit a new quilt group. i have have no idea how long it has been meeting. there is a leader of the group and she has us making half square for a quilt she wants to make for a raffle . she was very specific how to press the squares and the quarter inch seam as some of the ladies were not consistent with it. and she was also showing everyone how to line up the squares and have the diagonal line with the square on the bottom. she also suggested that a dab of glue to hold the two squares together while sewing. this is where the glue came in. she also mentioned that there was going to be a demonstration with a popular quilting teacher at a guild meeting and she was going to bring everyone up to date on new methods of doing things and glue was one of them. So what are new methods

I often use a tiny dot of Elmer's washable school glue instead of pins to match seams before sewing. Tiny dot of glue followed by the iron to set it. If I need to open up the seam later, I just moisten with a fingertip to pull the fabrics apart.

Sharon Schamber has some videos on Youtube that show how she uses glue to apply binding.

let us know how it works out..but i don't think you need glue...curious

I use elmers washable glue sticks for piecing for two reasons.

1) It is difficult for me to handle pins.
2) The matches are much better than when I use pins.

It washes out when the quilt is done, as Prism99 said.

Just make sure you purchase WASHABLE glue, not permanent glue. My piecing is greatly improved since I found out about using glue instead of pins.

I also watched Sharon Schamber's video on utube. I had never heard of gluing, but she is a professional quilter, so she must know what she's talking about...lol.

My quilts are just everyday things (not professional), so I don't think I'll take the time to use that method, but it was interesting to see the methods being used.

Here is one of her links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PE0Yq9iGlc

Once you are on her page, you can see the others.

i have been using her method of putting on bindings with elmers school glue, for a long time..

just never thought of using it to line up seams!

If measurements are done right and sewing is consistent, I don't think glue is needed, but if it works for her, great.

I use glue when doing applique,,,,, sure makes it easier!!

Elmer's School Glue is a super thick starch. It will wash out when the quilt is washed, so if it helps--Go for it!

Yes! I agree with you. Glue? Come on now. I got out of the second grade 30 years ago.

this board is a friendly place, please dont forget that. No quilt police allowed

I don't glue my fabric, but I think it is wonderful that there is a method that can help people who struggle! I made a couple of blocks years ago that I think glue might have saved some frustration.

I taught beginning quilting a few years ago and there were a couple of people that I would have recommended this method to.

I use both the stick glue and roxxane's basting glue. Both work well, helps keep the binding in place instead of pins. No more poked bloody fingers!!

Now that was mean.

I'm sure Sharon Schamber has been out of second grade for many years too. However, she is a three time time Best of Show winner at Houston. When you can beat her record we'll drop the glue.

Every one is different and has different methods for doing things. No one method is right or wrong, just different.

I too have been out of second grade for MANY years, however I am not OLD either so maybe I shouldn't be quilting, period! :|

I just picked up the bottle tips tonight while I was at Michael's. There are sometimes that I will start pinning a project together and get pulled away having to do something with the kids or around the house. I am always worried that one of the kids or a cat will get ahold of a pin. I don't have the money to have one removed from a cats gut. and I sure in the heck don't want to deal with a husband who has just stepped on one. therefore....I am going to start glueing some seams instead of pinning. Like on bargellos!

I've done many bindings without it, but tried the glue method on a small project that I wanted to machine finish. It actually worked quite nicely. I will use it again when I don't want to hand-sew the binding. (I, too made it out of second grade)

I started using glue for applique the landscape quilt I'm working on. Fantastic ... if I don't like it I simply lift it off. I use the stick as I find it much easier to work with.

And yes, thinking when I do regular piecing again (when I finish this quilt) glue is a fantastic alternative especially for piecing strips.

No pins means: no holes in the fabric, no pins that I have to remove lest I sew on top of them, no broken needles, no fallen pins on the floor (room is carpeted), no pricked fingers or tongue (yes I keep them in my mouth), faster sewing time (faster to match strips plus I don't waste time removing pins).

So I really don't care how long I've been out of school. If we went by the theory of "it wasn't done back then" then we might as well give up our machines, our rotary cutters, all of our fancy specialized rulers, and ... the QB.

Oh my! Why didn't I think of that? Thank you for saying it!!

:roll:
What matters with anything I do or learn is what works for me, not what anyone thinks of what works for me.

Glue doesn't work for you? You don't like the idea of using glue to quilt? Don't use it. I happen to need it; it makes it easier and, just as important, more enjoyable for me to quilt.

I have used glue with paper piecing to keep my fabrics from flopping the wrong way; to hold applique in place and to hold batting in place while doing little 4" quilt as you go blocks. "Whatever works" is my motto!

Thank you for posting this tip. I will have to try it.

Using Glue is so much safer for those of us on blood thinners. I bought a very small bottle that I refill from the cheeper larger bottles. The small bottle is easy to handle and takes up less space on my ironing board.

Have you tried the glue sticks? You can get Elmers School Glue in package of 3 or 4 cheaply at the dollar store. You might find it easier than bottled glue. It is temporary and washable. I took an applique class that used freezer paper and glue sticks as an alternative to needle turn

:roll: I know lots of grownups that use glue. Me included. In fact I still use markers, colored pencils and even crayons sometimes.

There's nothing wrong with using things like glue to make things easier. If you don't want to, fine, but don't disparage those that choose to.

I love to color and I have been out of 2nd grade for more than 40 years. I wonder that means...Never too old to have fun?

Glue or an acid free glue stick will save you lots of time if you are putting binding on a round object like a bib, no pins every inch required and you can make it perfect. Works wonderful for the Heart- shaped potholders that will drive you nuts. Really you can use it on a lot of different projects. I keep several sticks and bottles close by.

I have read about using glue before and haven't used it yet. I think I will try it as soon as I get this weeks groceries and can get some Elmers Glue Sticks. I think it will save me from dropping so many pins because of my carpal tunnel and arthritis. Thanks for the tip. :)

Never used the glue trick..I just do a fast machine basting stitch and then go right over it if all lines up...If not just pull out in one string, make adjustments and baste again

my first use of glue sticks:
when i am doing string or strip quilts on muslin..saves the pressing with the iron.

Everyone has there own opinions, and what works for them is OK.

Crayons---google "crayon artist" and take a look at some of the fabulous portraits and pictures Don Marco has drawn...using good ol' Crayolas

Glue...great idea...never thought of it, but bet it would have helped when doing my Sunbonnet Sue that I struggled to hold the pieces in place....

Whatever works...for whomever....all artist, us quilters included, have their methods and mediums. Let's not disparage another's creativity. Sometimes something beautiful comes from the simplest things!!

Thank you for the U Tube - makes it more clear.

OHHHHHHHHH thank you!!! You just told me where I can get the tips. I kept wondering through her whole video where she got them. THANKS SO MUCH :)

People from the US and Europe seem to do a lot of gluing. It is only just catching on in Australia, from my observation, and I think it has its uses.This is especially so on curved piecing as it keeps everything anchored before sewing and saves a lot of unpicking. I have glued a lot of wall hangings together before sewing and it saved a lot on time and thread.
I have both re-positional glue and one semi permanent one. The re-positional on is good for landscape quilt wall hangings.I also don't worry about getting the expensive stuff the quilt shops sell. I just use ordinary washable glue as long as it is acid free and it all washes out.

I am using glue to hold the strips on my reversible quilt until I am ready to hand or machine stitch them down....match points.. and bindings on very small curved items. Sure has made my life easier.

i am not sure where the tips are in michels, but in joanns..they are in the paint section.handing up. i believe they are put out by "plaid" company.

I just bought some Elmer's School glue yesterday, I still need to look for some of their glue sticks.I think the glue will make it a lot easier for me.

I have been quilting for almost 60 years and keep several different kinds of glue in my workroom. All used for specific purposes. Just make sure you use an archival safe, washable glue on any quilts that you expect to be heirlooms. Non washable art quilts ... you might not want to use this type of glue.

I use glue sometimes for paper piecing, applique, bindings and many more things (like keeping zippers in place, t shirt hems, buttons, etc.) You do not need a lot, just a bit and make sure it is dry before sewing through it.

Speaking of Elmer's.....
I told my son to pick up some spray glue so I could sandwich my quilt, and he came back with the Elmer's spray glue, which he got at the Dollar General for 3.00. It is only about 4 oz., enough to do 1 quilt. So far I really like it. It sprays a fine mist, no spitting little ball.
syl