i watched a video and saw her use glue instead of pins. she used a metal tip that her daughter sells online. what a surprise!

has anyone tried that method?

Not yet, but hope to this weekend. I have everything but the metal tips...not quite sure what I'll do if I don't get some by then...my friend suggested applying the glue with a toothpick. Since it's a small quilt, I might just try it that way. Sharon does sell the tips on her site...it's more $ for shipping than for the tips, so I haven't ordered yet until I look to see if there's anything else to buy to justify the shipping cost.

i was wondering if...see, i'm very cheap if it's possible to find an alternative...i can put school glue into a sewing machine oil dispenser that has that teeny hole and use that. it has a little cap that would keep it from drying out.

what do you think? it's probably a lot less $ an no shipping.

I use this method for binding all the time. It's great! When using the iron on the glue, just use the tip of the iron on the binding only. If you put the iron on the quilt you may flatten your batting and it won't come back up even after washing.

The metal tip on the glue is actually the pencil end of a mechanical pencil. You don't really need to buy the special bottle tips. Just pry off the orange tip of the glue top and "screw on" the pencil tip. I've not found any place to buy just the pencil tips but you can order the same "Sharon Schambers" glue kit from Plaid, that's what I did.

I'm told you can use the tips off of the Bic Mechanical Pencils, but I've not tried those.

To clean up my pencil tip I just let is soak in hot soapy water for about an hour and voila all the glue is gone.

I'd sure give that a shot! Let me know how it works!

I don't have anything suitable lying around the house. I did look at Joann's in every department I could think of, but didn't find anything with a small enough hole. Our local Michael's is in the process of moving, so I didn't get to check there. Maybe I'll check at the hardware store!

Has anyone tried glue sticks? I use it on my binding when I fold it in half. I do not iron my binding, just finger press it. I read where someone said they used glue stick to attach the binding to the back side of the quilt.

All sorts of possibilities. We can create our own!!! But school glue is sort of messy, right? I don't think I would be inclined to try that one!

Let us know how it works, those of you who have tried it.

June

Interesting. I need to check this out.

Haven't tried glue sticks. Do they wash out like the School Glue?

I think the trick with the school glue is in using the fine tip. It would dispense much less than using the bottle alone. This weekend I'll test it out on some scraps or a doll quilt and see how it goes.

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/fre...gel/index.html

It's in the "Binding the Angel" video clip.

I have used Elmer's School Glue or Roxanne's Basting glue since I started quilting and couldn't get my seams to match. :D Sometimes I glued a tiny teeny point of fabric to get my point back that I cut off in the seam. :wink:
I bought the glue tips Sharon uses the first time I saw her use them. They are heavy weight and the tips are long giving a even very fine line of glue. I didn't know the mech. pencil trick. That's nifty. Did you know, Elmer's School glue is a very heavy starch not a glue.

I also use this system for binding....and I love it!

I used Fons and Porters glue stick until I saw the Elmers video. I like the Elmers much better but need to get the tip. The smallest bottle of Elmers has a smaller tip and it works good but I want the metal tip.

I haven't used them yet, but JoAnn's online had small "glue applicator" bottles with metal tips on sale a few weeks ago. Also found a set of applicator bottles with metal tips at Michael's. They were in the porcelain painting section.

I was about to try her method, and I did find the glue tips that she sells:

Plaid ® Art Materials - Tip Pen Set

They sell at many craft stores, or online at United Art & Education, here:

http://www.unitednow.com/detail.asp?...T_ID=PLD-50136

I read about a lady who uses a funnel made out of tape, taped around her glue tip to keep it small. Also, some say that they keep it small enough by just not twisting the tip open very far.

i just want to make sure i have it right. you take a mechanical pencil apart. using the tip, where the lead would come out, you force that metal part down into the hole at the tip of the glue bottle. then you can squeeze the glue right through the metal hole. the glue cap fits over the pencil/applicator tip to keep it moist. you soak in warm water to clean it out. is that about right? that sounds like a great way to do this.

I have also heard of putting a small damp sponge in the bottom of a small jar so the tip doesn't get gummy as you work. You tip the glue container upside down so the tip is in contact with the damp sponge.

Just curious ... was she using fabric cut on the bias or just strips cut on grain?

RedGarnet222,
if you mean sharon schamber, then from what i remember it was straight grain. she used it for sashings and cornerstones in the video. (look for it on youtube) the advantage was that there was no pin distortion, especially at intersecting seams. it certainly looked like a much better system than pinning.
i don't know why it wouldn't work on off-grain, since once the glue is appllied, you heat set it with only the tip of the iron. that dries the glue instantly and you go on from there.

She demos the process here, it's free:

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/

that's where i first saw it. i just don't want to buy that tip from her and pay $ for s+h if there's a less $ way, is all.

I just went in and looked close at the threads of the binding in the video. They are running like she used cut fabric with the grain. Huh, I was always told to use the bias because of the cross threads on the edge make it more durable. Interesting ... very interesting. I suppose because this is a wallhanging it would not be as important ??? Live and learn

I found a mech pencil and tried the tip trick. I rather pay the s/h, a lot less hassle for me. I had a glue mess. :D

I used Elmer's school glue to sew the circles on this quilt. http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/17782.page

I didn't use a special tip, I found if I was just a little bit careful I could get a thin bead of glue just using the tip on the bottle. I also used it on some bias binding on a set of potholders and it worked great. I'll be using it from now on instead of pins.

that tells me exactly what i want to know. thanks!

It's the only way I do binding anymore. It takes time to glue everything down but saves sooo much more time in the sewing process. Sharon used to have a free video on how to make these glue tips with plain on mechanical pencils. But it's been removed since she started selling the tips.

I use glue sticks that wash out. Works well on my projects. Have not used the permanent since I wash mine out. You can get them in small tubes (cylinders) at WalMart or Staples.

More good information! I learn so much here! :lol:

Yes, I took a class from Sharon (fantastic teacher) earlier this year (piecelique). It's a variation on paper piecing, and I love it much more. I find it faster, more accurate, and easier to understand once I got the hang of it. No paper to pull off the back when the block is done, and you only need 2 copies of the pattern for multiple blocks: one for cutting, one for placement. Works great on curves. Also, you can flip each seam whichever side you want it before sewing the next. I used a bottle of Glue-Baste-It with a long thin metal applicator. You can see a picture at www.thatperfectstitch.com under notions tab. I expect you can find that type of bottle in a well stocked craft store. I don't see how glue stick would work well, and it would be a lot slower than washable school glue.

Great ideas!!

Yes I use her method in a lot of my quilting. I love her method of glue baste appique on foundation paper. Just finished a quilt with her corded binding technique. I think her work is fantastic and so glad she is willing to share her methods with us. I also have learned a lot about free motion quilting from her for both my longarm and domestic machine. Her web site gives a lot of free information and the paid part is well worth the money

Sharon Schamber's technique is awesome! I attended her workshop when she came to our guild. Use Elmer's school glue sticks because that glue washes out when you're done. She uses glue sticks for everything! I was amazed. It works great and now it's a favorite technique of mine. By the way, the point of using the tiny metal tip on the glue bottle is so you just use a tiny amount of glue. Very little glue is needed, so however you get the that end result, go for it!

Yes and it really works!! Try it. Your binding will look like a "best of show". :wink:

If you go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby, you might find Roxanne's Glue Baste it with the metal tip.

But don't ever buy her glue again after this purchase to get the metal tip. It is way too expensive. $7.50-$8.00 plus shipping if ordering on line...
.25 oz. -$3.50 (ridiculous for glue only)

Roxann's glue is Elmer's, so just buy Elmer's water soluable and refil your bottle with the metal tip.

I took Sharon's class two year ago before she started selling the metal tip.

I can tell you that if you do not get a metal tip, you will have a mess on your hands. Then just clean the tip with soapy water, then blow through it and you are ready to use again.
This technique is Great!
Diana in Texas

Just got the applicator bottles/tips at Michael's. They were near the acrylic paints, but in the next aisle (I'm sure it varies by store). There were 2 bottles and tips in a set for $7.99 and I used a 50% coupon. Not bad! I'm anxious to try it out!

I've never even thought of glue!! What an awesome idea!!!

Ok, I have a question about glueing material. I have a glue for material can I use this or school glue to applique? I have been using steam a seam 2 but I live in Argentina and they do not sell that here. I am making a applique quilt now and I have run out of steam a seam. I am waiting for my sister-in-law to bring me some that I sent to her daughter's house in FL. She is coming back on April 20th so I do not have to wait long. But for future is is possible to use glue for this purpose??
Thanks everyone,
Penny

I took one of her classes a Quilt Camp in the Pines, Flagstaff AZ. She uses regular elmers school glue and irons it to dry it and set it. The tips can be bought at Micheals or Joannes. Any tip that gives a very fine line works. She uses this technique in her paperless paper piecing. Visit her website for tutorials.
Kay

Sharon uses school (starch based) glue: it washes out so that you don't stitch through the glue when quilting, and because it is cheap. Many fabric glues are intended to be permanent when heat set, others are intended for basting (wash out). The permanent glues can trigger allergy problems in some sensitive people.

Thank you Leigh. Can I use fabric spray adhesive? If not will go with the school glue.
Penny