unorthodox basting idea
 

the weekend before Hurricane Sandy, I was trying to get a baby quilt finished so I had some hand work when we lost power (I knew we would, since we lose power for no apparent reason several times a year - we have a generator, thank goodness!)

I grabbed the elmer's school glue, and ackkkkk... it was all dried up and useless. Then I spotted the box of glue sticks I had sitting there.

I used the glue stick in small areas, ironed it nice and flat to the batting and kept doing that til the whole thing was "glue basted" front and back.

I worked GREAT!!! I was able to machine quilt it with very little effort!!! I have NOT been successful pin basting, I have NO idea what I am doing wrong when I pin baste, but that is for another day's efforts.

Hope this helps someone else!!
F

I think I'll give it a try. What kind of glue stick did you use?

I have a friend who glue sticks anything she is going to applique. She does beautiful work. I don't have a clue what the long term effects of the glue on fabric would have. Sometimes years down the road we get quite a surprise.
Happy Quilting.

it was just a washable glue stick... staples brand

I use washable glue sticks for applique and papter piecing. Just make sure it's washable!

I use glue about as much as thread when I make a quilt! LOL. I recently found the Lapel brand glue stick. It's made for fabric and holds better then the school glue sticks although I use a lot Elmer's School glue and sticks too. http://www.lapelstick.com/

I use any brand of washable glue sticks for small projects and for binding and appliqué. Works great. For larger projects I use Elmer's School Glue. It never fails to amaze me. LOL

Thanks to all of you who posted about the glue sticks. What a help this will be to me! Pin-basting takes awhile and I can better use that time if I glue-baste!