Baste with a Glue Stick for Precise Seams
Skip the Pins and Get Better Results!
Glue-basting has become a go-to technique for seams that quilters don’t want to shift while stitching. While most instructions involve using liquid school glue (learn more here), glue sticks work just as well and are often quicker. Plus, basting with a glue stick is amazingly hassle-free.
Any glue stick will work but make sure it’s washable. That way all the glue will dissolve and wash away when the quilt is washed.
Amanda from Gypsy Moon Quilts prefers a UHU washable glue stick because:
“It’s solvent free, made from 98% natural ingredients and is completely washable. It’s a little more watery than Elmer’s, making it glide smoother when applied. –It also doesn’t get as gloopy and won’t dry out on your fabric before you get your pieces together.”
Simply swipe the glue onto the fabric in the seam allowance, position the second piece on top (right sides together) and press with an iron to dry the glue. Then stitch as normal. You’ll love how the pieces don’t shift, allowing for very precise piecing. And, because the glue is dry, it won’t gum up your machine.
Glue-basting was not used in piecing this block. We’d love to see how crisp it would be if it had been.
You’ll find full instructions in Amanda’s article, linked to below.
Glue-basting is best reserved for quilts you will wash. Otherwise, the glue may attract insects over time.
