Have You Tried Glue?

June 30, 2026

I see a lot of posts lately where people are using glue in their projects. I have tried most of these and some I like and to be honest, some I will probably not use again, or if I do it won't be on a regular basis. If you haven't tried some of these methods I encourage you to branch out. You never know when you might fall in love with a new technique and put into your quilting routine.

First, let's start by discussing glue. The most important thing is that it be washable. Most of the glues specifically developed for quilters or fabric use is washable. Some of the common ones you may have seen include Sue Dailey, Acorn Glue, and of course the multitude of glue sticks available by many different manufacturers and don't forget the spray glue.

Just a few of the many glue options out there.

Many people use other alternatives, and one of the most common one you see is good old-fashioned Elmer school glue. It works like a charm as long as you get the one that says "washable" on the label.

You can also consider things like the tip on the container-does it flow too fast, or too slow, does it have a tendency to clog often.......I have also discovered since getting older that some glues require more "squeezing" and this can get tiresome on the hand or be difficult if you battle things like carpal tunnel, or arthritis.

Some ways to use glue:

• Most of us have probably used the spray basting glue (like 505 or Perfect Baste) to hold layers together prior to quilting. Although I don't do large quilting projects on my domestic machine, I do like the spray baste for smaller items like table runners, pillow tops, placemats, potholders etc...

• Glue is a great alternative to pinning applique pieces to the background fabric. Not only in the Lori Holt "sew in" interfacing method, but also in needle turn applique. I do prefer using glue for this, I find I don't get as many puckers or wrinkles when I sew my pieces down. Plus when hand sewing the pieces down, there aren't any pins to get your thread caught.

• One thing I've seen a lot lately is using glue to hold a corner square securely in place while sewing corner to corner. This does work extremely well and there isn't any shifting of the fabric, you get nice even corner squares but there are a couple of downfalls. First, you have to be careful where you place the glue, you only want it on the piece you will trim off. Because of that, you won't be able to save that piece to make scrappy hst's, so you will get more fabric waste especially if you are working with larger pieces. Secondly, the glue doesn't "stick" immediately. So you either need to glue it and wait for it to dry a bit as you continue gluing other pieces, or work on another part of your block........or you could hold your iron on the piece to "set" the glue quicker. This is extremely effective when dealing with tiny squares (1 or 1.5 inches).

You can see the 4 dots of liquid glue placed on the corner of the fabric that will be cut off and discarded. None of the glue is on the half that will remain on the quilt block.

• You can also take this one step further by using the same technique to match up intersections within your block, or when sewing rows together. I have tried this and it also works well, but I must confess, I would probably only use this for smaller seams, not long rows.

If you look closely, you will see this is a four patch block and I am lining up the seams and then putting a few dots of glue instead of using pins.

• Glue also works as a great alternative to hold you binding in place while you are handstitching it down. It eliminates the need for pins or clips.

On the left side of this split photo you can see some dots of the Elmer's white washable glue along the very edge of the quilt. On the right side the binding has been pulled over and pressed with an iron to "set" it prior to hand basting. Just keep the glue away from the very edge where your needle will travel so it's easier to push your needle through. No clips needed!

• Foundation paper piecing with glue sticks is very popular, and I find it easier than working with pins.

• And don't forget it can be a good option for english paper pieces like hexies etc.

I over exagerated the glue from the glue stick in this picture so it would show up, but it's a great alternative to basting your hexie's by hand. If you give this a good press after, you are ready to stitch to an adjoining hexie.

Some things to remember when using glue:

• Try not to place the glue where your needle path will be. It makes it harder to stitch.

• A little goes a long way. A thin line of glue, or little dots of glue is plenty.

• Experiment with different brands, some adhere quicker, some do better if you apply the hot iron for a second or two.

• Some tips flow faster than others. Try to find a tip that gives you good control so you don't "flood" your fabric.

• Use only the dry heat setting on your iron, not the steam setting when setting your glue.

• Your needle won't gum up if you keep the glue out of it's path, or if the glue is set and dry prior to sewing.

• If you make a mistake and glue your fabric in the wrong position, you can gently pull the fabrics apart to reposition. It isn't a permanent placement.

• Glue won't ruin your iron. Washable glue can effectively be washed off.

• Remember to always recap your glue so you don't end up with clogged nozzle.

Give one of these methods a try and see what you think!!!!!

Twila

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