How to use Elmer's Washable School Glue (because y'all asked)
 

When I posted my latest quilt last week, I mentioned my new Best Friend Forever, Elmer's Washable School Glue. I discovered this pinless method of quilting right here on The Board. What an amazing place this is! Many of my commenters asked about how to use the glue. So, all in one place, I'm inviting all you gluers to post your tips. Here is how I use it:

Be sure you are using WASHABLE school glue. It's really a thick starch, and washes out beautifully. If you don't leave globs, it won't be hard to stitch through even by hand, it won't gum your needle, and you will be a very happy camper.

1. Instead of pinning pieces, I add a thin line of glue, lay the second piece on top, and hit it with a hot iron to set. Once I'm sure it's lined up properly, it goes in a pile to stitch.

2. To match seams, I line up the edges, and line up the seams. Again, glue and press. Here's the best part: I can check to see if the seam (or points, whatever) are lined up and meet BEFORE I stitch the seam. If not, just pull them apart and try again. You will need to add more glue. Once it's pressed dry, it won't budge.

3. Same thing for blocks: line 'em up, glue, press, check, stitch. DONE!! On my first quilt, a nine-patch, I could not get the seams to line up and I was so frustrated. About a third of the way through, I read about the glue method. Of course I had to go back and rip those blocks apart, and after gluing they were all matched and I was very happy.

4. When it comes to glueing the sandwich, I'm still working on the perfect way to do this. This last time I pinned my backing to the floor, drizzled glue and then spread it with a damp paintbrush, and set the batting on top. I ironed it right there on the floor. It's important to take a damp paintbrush and swipe the glue so there aren't any globs. I was not happy, as there back seemed very puckery to me, but once I'd ironed the glue, I couldn't get it apart without tearing the batting. So I stitched it up and hoped for the best. Happily, it stitched up just fine, and looks great.

Next time, I'm going to lay the batting down and put the backing on top and iron. I'm sure this will give me a nice smooth back since I'll be able to see it. Then I'll flip and do the top.

As long as you didn't leave any globs, you'll have no trouble quilting, and the top won't slide. No pins to work around!! No broken needles!!

5. Binding: here's the best part of all! Once I stitch the binding to the front (you could glue here, I don't bother), I fold & glue the binding to the back of the quilt. No more tangling my thread around pins, and no more pricking myself and bleeding on the quilt! I packed an unfinished quilt and traveled with it, and all I needed was a needle to stitch with, and no worries about losing pins.

Wash the quilt to remove the glue, and you're done!

If you have any tips, please share!

thanks for the wonderful tutorial!

I've been wondering about the best way to use glue. Your good instructions may give me the courage to try it.

I have read the post about using Elmer's school glue; but was to "chicken" to try it. You've convinced me. I'll try it. Thanks!

I think, perhaps, those who have trouble with their needles or puckering are using too thick a line of glue. The more times I used this Elmer's School Glue system, the less I used until I ended up with a very thin line. You don't have to worry about making a mess that shows, just wash it when you are done with the entire quilt and ALL the glue, visible or not, is gone. Ironing is important, although I "iron" with my hands, from the center out, as I go along.

My first time I used it I was doing a pictorial with thin (about 1-2") lines and I got glue all over. It washed out when the completed quilt was laundered. I'll never use that toxic stuff again!!!!

Thank you MaryAnn. So many of the Board members are believers and now with this great tut I am going to try this method. Appreciate your time and generousity in sharing.

When you use the glue to sandwich your quilt, do you find that it gums up the needle at all?

The glue does not gum up your needle (hand or sewing machine) because it is dried. When you iron the glued area it dries the glue or if you just let it dry over night. You might want to try it on a pot holder size project to see if you like it. You will be happy.

MaryAnn, your tutorial is just right!

I have got to try this!!

MaryAnn,

What kind of floor do you have? The only room I have with open floor space is our family room and it has the laminate wood floor. I am sure DH would have a fit if I ironed on it. I wonder if laying down a thick fleece blanket would help protect the floor? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks so much. for the tute on this. Very interesting!!! Have to try it.

I used the glue on my most recent quilt sandwich. Works like a charm! And it came off my laminated floor...I just used a damp mop.

Thanks for the great tute. Glue basting....I'm a believer!

Sherri, my floors are ceramic tile, but I have a large area rug in the living room I can pin to. If I had laminate floor, I think I would tape to the floor (use the blue painter's tape) and rather than ironing, let it dry. I'm not sure how long it would take, but unless it's very humid, I would think a few hours would do it. I'm sure if we all put our "thinking caps" on we'll find a solution for you.

MaryAnn thank you so much. You have convinced me and I will b trying it with my next quilt, early next week.

Thanks again
Debbie

With 2 or 3 layers of fabric approx. how long to iron the glue dry. :)

I was really intrigued with the glue method, so I tried it on a table runner I was making. Rather than applying the glue in a line, I dotted the glue all over the batting about 4" apart. Then I layed the backing on it and ironed. Flipped it over and did the same thing with the top. Worked like a charm. No shifting, nice and neat when quilted, no puckers, etc. I just LOVE this method!

Could you build a large ironing board and put it on two workhorses? I have one and
find it very handy for ironing (of course) and now for glue basting.

Thank You for all the tips.

MaryAnn, you are not a Chicken McLittle and your good instructions have made me feel brave enough to try these tips! Thanks!

I have used Elmer's on my last 3 bindings as seen in the Binding Angel on Youtube... and love it.

Thanks MaryAnn, I'm glad to see the way to do written out. Usually all I see is that someone used the school glue but not how it was done. Thanks a lot.

I have glued two quilts and did a table runner and placemats and love the method. I am about to do a queen size quilt that I have in three sections. The sections are full length of the quilt. I plan to glue the three sandwiches withing two or three inches of the edges, do the quilting and then join. Then, I will finish any quilting I need to do in the areas of joining. I appreciate the tip about using a damp paintbrush to smooth out the glue so it doesn't glob up. Iappreciated the lighter weight of the quilt compared to pins. In my quilting life, pins are a thing of the past!

If you are going to use the glue method, don't use a polyester batt. It will just go flat if you iron it and it won't recover when you wash it. If you aren't sure make a sample piece with scrap fabric, batting and backing and iron it to be sure this will work for youl.

I'm definitely going to try this for my next sandwich. I've used glue instead of pins when making binding - a la - Sharon Schamber and I used it on my last quilt to glue the binding down before stitching (I machine stitch my bindings) and it was the first time my bindings looked the same size on both sides. Yay! :) So the sandwich is definitely the next step.

I don't have any tips just a question. Can you dilute the Elmers glue with water or something else and spray it
on the layers? Did anybody do an experiment with this? I would not mind to have suggestions and try it out.
Ty for your response. This board is marvelous for new tips and tricks of the trade.

I too read about Elmer on this awesome board and when I tried it I fell in love with Elmer, that is washable glue... I have hardly used pins since starting to use Elmer. I now have awesome bindings and matching seams. Yes, this is one of those times that less is better. If you haven't yet tried this method, do it...you won't go back!

First of all, thank you for your tute, it was very informative and clear. I saved it for later today to use on my binding. Second, when I go to glue my batting: I just bought some Quilter's 80/20 from Joann's. Will the glue work for this type of batting ? I have read other posts about gluing methods and thought that there were some posts about the type of batting to use. I really want to use the glue if it works. Anyone out there use 80/20 with glue ?

I tried this on binding and love i.. Someone one here had a metal one. Went looking for one. Someone said hobby lobby in the paint area. Was not there. Tried the glue area not there. I did find in the art dept. Small plastic bottles with very small tips. $2.99 plus my coupon. If I do not like it I am not out a lot of money. Would really like the metal one because it screws right on the bottle. Any ideas where and how much? Thanks!

Ive been using the glue for awhile on bindiings but nowhere else (YET). I am going to try the glue on piecing it sounds like a winner....now for the sandwich basting....what if....we put glue in a spray bottle with some water, shook it up and spritz then ironed?...might be worth a try? I do love using the K2000 to spray baste but boy its getting too pricy and Joanns quit carrying it so no coupons! I tried the Dritz and it seems ok, found that at wallmart but its still 12.00 a can.
I also have this bottle of craft starch, supposed to be used for stiffening fabric for other type crafts...maybe I'll play with that a bit.

What great timing! I am on my way to the sewing room to put binding on a baby quilt for my new GD. I'll grab the glue on my way and avoid getting pricked. Thank you!

Sharon Schamber has new tips for the Elmer's bottles that work great and to me, they are worth the $$. Before I ordered hers, I wasted more money on gas just trying to find them around town and I wasted money trying other types of tips which didn't work.

Angela this is a great idea! I think that I will try it on scraps. Not only would it be simpler than basting or pinning, but it would also not require as much glue (not that it is expensive). You definitely should apply heat to anything that you use school glue on in order for it to hold. I have never had it to stick without applying heat. Just passing on what I learned from the glue expert Sharon Schamber.

I've glued 2 lap size quilt sandwiches last week and the one thing I did differently was put little random glue 'dots' on the (batting) about every 4-5 inches instead of 'lines' or 'swirls' of glue. You really don't need a lot of glue to be effective. I'm still looking for half a needle that broke off while I was FMQ when I think I hit a fairly large spot of glue. Remember it dries and gets harder!

What works well for me:
1) lay the batting down on the floor (I don't tape or anything).
2) lay the backing on top of the batting and fold half the backing back on itself.
3) working from the middle, I put small dots of glue on the BATTING over an 18 inch wide section, smooth the backing on that section and iron that section.
4) I then do the next 1/4 section working towards the edge. (repeat until the whole thing is glued down. Make sure everything is flat. (BONUS: I didn't even have to iron my backing ahead of time because I didn't need to tape it taut to the floor!)
5) Flip the whole thing over so the backing is now on the floor with the batting right side up.
6) lay the top on top of the batting and repeat. It's just so slick!

sounds great and easy... i use the 505 spray for the backing and find it very helpful it is a glue but it is movable until you get it straight i love it. thanks so much for all your help i will be trying the washable school glue pins are such a mess... lol...

Thank You!

I have used it to paper piece, and for all the other things, but haven't tried to sandwich with it. Today is going to be the first try on that. It sure simplifies matching seams, and holding that binding without sticky pins or bulky binder clips. Great tips we get on the board

I'm doing an English paper piece top. I've pressed all my blocks onto the template, removed the template and glued the edges down. Working really well. I have a stack of hexagons ready to sew.

I used it on a lap quilt using scraps left from a T shirt quilt someone else made. It sure was helpful as I didn't use any fusible to stabilize it. Washed it and it is nice and soft now. BTW I alternated using washable glue stick and washable Elmer's. Couldn't see a difference other than stick was easier to apply. I have used it where easing was necessary and WOW, that really works good then. Just line up corners, glue them and then ease in between and press