Using elmers glue to baste applique and bind quilts
 

Hi, I just read a post about using the school glue to baste a quilt. I have not done this basting technique yet. A little scared, but do want to try. However, I remember a very nice carpenter who always asked my daughter for the the empty applicator bottle from hairdye. He was right, these bottles have a very small hole and good point. Thus they work just great for many things us quilters use school glue for when quilting. Just a bit of glue comes out and for tiny applique pieces that is just what I want. I want just a bit when binding too. Just make sure you clean all of the hairdye out very, very well.

You can also use Elmers washable Glue Sticks, they are great for appliques since you do not need much & it far less messy.

As long as you keep the tip of the Elmer's glue bottle on the fabric, and apply light pressure to the bottle, you will get a nice thin line of glue. The trick is keeping the tip on the fabric. I've gone through 1.5 bottles of glue on my current project, and no glue has seeped through. Remember, "a dot is a lot."

I have tried. What did I do wrong. I put the glue in a washing up bottle to give an easy thin flow . I dribbled the glues ina thin line placed piece on top and then pushed to spread out glue. I got big blobs and the glue came through the fabric. I have purchased a large bottle of elders and was fleeced it cost for delivery to UK £70 . I have got to get this right.

thanks for this great 'tip'... no pun intended :)

I have been using the glue with applique, it is good, the odd time yes I might have more on there than is necessary. I press the applique between two sheets of parchment paper, as it would get on everything. Works well.

Oh gosh, sorry to hear that. I've used the glue numerous times, haven't had that issue. The only thing I can think of is even a thinner line, or just use tiny dots of the glue as close together as you would put a pin. Maybe a bottle with even a thinner "dribble"? good luck with it.

Dottymo: I had that problem on one of my quilts, but it didn't affect my quilting, and after I washed the quilt it was fine. You and I both need to remember "less is more".

I put the batting down first and put thin squiggles of glue on the batting. I put the backing, right side up, on the batting and smooth. Let dry and turn it over and do the same thing with the quilt top. Let dry and then quilt.

Great tip, thank you!!!!

I bound one quilt using Elmer's School Glue with the thin tip you buy separately and my binding was rock hard. I did a very thin line, but it must of been too thick to make it so stiff. Haven't used it since. And I spent the extra time and money finding the tiny tip.

I tried this method with just a bit of glue but when I pressed my binding, the glue came right through the fabric. last time I did that!! maybe a glue stick would work better. as it is, I pin or use clips and that works fine for me.

Sorry you had this problem. The only time my glue showed through was with black binding but I realized also I put too much on. Try a thinner line. It takes a little getting used to so maybe practice on something you don't care that much about or on some fabric scraps.

The only time that glue coming thru the fabric will matter is if you never plan on washing the quilt, coz it will all wash out making seams and binding soft like they should be. Glue sticks are less messy, won't bleed thru the fabric and still wash out....give those a try.

i have chased a thin tip [in aussi] so far wood workers use small tip containers art supplies have small tips but the best one ive seen is roxanns quilting glue costly but worth it to get the bottle +tip then you can use what glue you want

I use my washable glue stick to baste just as I would use pins: a dot/smudge every 3 or 4 inches for binding, or at intersections for joining seams. Really, "a little dab will do."

I dab, then I hold the pieces together for a few seconds, then continue on.

If you have trouble getting a thin line, just dab tiny dots of glue about 1" apart for binding. When I use the glue for basting the quilt, I hold the bottle up high and by the time the glue gets to the batting it is very thin. I aim for no thicker then a needle.

Bella, do you pin baste in addition to the glue, or is the glue sufficient by itself to hold the sandwich together while it's being manipulated through the machine (if you're using a DSM, that is)?

Daffy