A Complete Guide to Glue Basting Seams

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

Glue basting seams is simple, inexpensive and the best way to ensure accuracy when piecing a quilt.

Have you ever been in the “quilting zone” piecing your little heart out only to realize that your points aren’t matching up very well, despite using pins? If you’re raising your hand right now, I’ve BEEN THERE. Many times. And it’s frustrating!

But after a lot of trial and error, I’ve discovered that glue basting seams is my holy grail when I want things to line up just so. In this photo tutorial, I will walk you through step-by-step how glue basting seams will allow you the most accurate results when quilting. 

When to Glue Baste

Glue basting seams is useful on many quilty occasions. Most notably, I find myself reaching for the glue when I’m piecing triangle quilts and quilts that have clean lines (such as the Reflections pattern I will be using in this demonstration. The Reflections pattern will be available on June 27, 2019.)

Additionally, I have a nasty habit of sewing over my pins (I know I’m not the only person with this problem. Insert exaggerated wink) and glue basting seams allows me to ditch the pins and sew with reckless abandon like the speed demon I am!

Tools of the Glue Basting Trade

When it comes to glue basting, things are pretty straightforward, and not a lot of tools are needed. The main thing you need is (ready for it?)...glue. Not all glues are created equal, though, so you want to make sure you have the correct one for glue basting seams.

A glue that is washable is the most important thing. Not a lot of glue is used when glue basting seams, but you want to make sure the small amount you do use will be able to be washed out once your quilted project is complete. 

I’ve used two types of glue that have worked well. On the left in the photo below is Roxanne Glue Baste It which does work very well. It comes in a bottle with an awesome precision tip and really does a great job of holding fabric in place. However, what I use most often is plain ole’ Elmer’s Washable School Glue (make sure it’s the washable variety.)

It’s inexpensive, it’s readily available at a variety of stores (or in your child’s crafting kit), and it works. Honestly, I don’t notice much difference between Roxanne Glue Baste It and Elmer’s Washable School Glue.

If using Elmer’s glue, a precision tip is key. Only a teeny, tiny, minuscule amount of glue is needed when glue basting seams and the tip included on Elmer’s glue bottles yields way too much glue. These bottles with precision tips work amazingly well. For this photo tutorial, I’m going to use Elmer’s Washable School Glue inside a bottle with a precision tip

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

#1: Transfer Your Glue

(If using Roxanne Glue Baste It, you can obviously skip this step.) If using Elmer’s Washable School Glue, carefully transfer the Elmer’s glue into the precision tip bottle. After tightening the precision tip cap, you’re ready to go!

#2: Gather Your Pieces to be Basted

I am testing out Suzy’s upcoming Reflections pattern for this demonstration. (As a side note, you guys are going to LOVE this pattern. Seriously. Trust me on this.)  As you can see from the photo below, I want to make sure the points match up as perfectly as possible.

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

#3: Start Glue Basting Seams

I know I’m starting to sound like a bit of a broken record at this point, but….here goes. When glue basting seams, only a very tiny amount of glue should be used.

First off, you want to make sure the amount of glue stays inside your ¼" seam allowance so that your needle doesn’t sew over the glue (ain’t nobody got time for gummed up sewing machine needles!)

Secondly, if you have too much glue, you risk any excess getting onto your iron when you heat set the glue (I’ll get to that part in a bit.) Ok--now let’s get our glue on.

In the photo above, I’ve identified two of the spots I’m going to put a bit of glue. Because my other fingers couldn’t reach the additional spots, I added a circle to show every spot I will glue. I’m placing glue where I want the strips to meet at crisp 90 degree angles.

Place the precision tip right at the spot you want to glue baste and place a tiny drop of glue.

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

#4: Add a Little Heat

Line up the points you want to match (where the drops of glue are) and gently press them together with your fingers. (This is the only step where I’ve noticed a bit of a difference between Roxanne Glue Baste It and Elmer’s Washable School Glue. I’ve found that Roxanne “sticks” better after finger pressing. However, you’re going to heat set the glue anyway, so it really doesn’t make that much difference in the end.)

Take your fabric to be glue basted to your ironing board or wool pressing mat. Press your glued spots with a hot iron (no steam). The heat will dry the glue and bond the two pieces of fabric together. This prevents any shifting when sewing the two pieces together. It’s truly magical.

After pressing the glued spots, you can either glue baste the rest of the fabric to be sewn or use a few pins in between the glued spots. If gluing, use a very thin strip of glue right along the edge so that the glue stays inside your seam allowance. Heat set the glued strips and then sew your pieces together.

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

In the case of this Reflections pillow I’m making, I’m choosing to pin between the glued spots only because I will be pressing the sewn seam open and that is easier for me than prying the glued fabric apart after sewing. 

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

#5: Admire Your Well-Aligned Points

After sewing and pressing your seam, you’re all done! This glue basting seams method is seriously fool proof. I used to have to pin, sew, seam rip because my points were off, and repeat. And sometimes repeat some more. This is a huge time saver for me. I hope you give it a try and that it works as well for you as it does for me!

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

I’m choosing to add some hand quilting details to my Reflections pillow and I’m loving how it’s turning out! For a full hand quilting tutorial, check out How to Hand Quilt (with Video Tutorial!)

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

One Last (Precision) Tip on Glue Basting Seams

One last tip before I leave you: I take the precision tip lid off of the bottle and rinse it with warm water after each use. After re-attaching the lid, I place a sewing pin in the top to keep the tip clear from glue that might dry and clog it up.

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

Are you a glue baster? Let us know your tried and true tips in the comments!

A complete tutorial on how glue basting seams will create accurate quilting and quilt pieces. Step by step instructions with photos showing you how easy glue basting can be.

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43 thoughts on “A Complete Guide to Glue Basting Seams

  1. lgatzkgirl says:

    This looks like such a great method! Thanks for sharing! One question though. Will this gunk up needles when quilting your piece later on a domestic or longarm?

  2. Lynne says:

    Thanks for this post, I’m going to try it! Also, I always appreciate the shopping links so I don’t have to search. Thanks for that too! You’re the best!

  3. Shelley says:

    I’ve recently starting doing this after seeing Mr. Domestic use this method on curved piecing. I definitely will try it for other tricky piecing projects. Do you ever mark the 1/4″ seam to help also?

  4. Diane says:

    Hi! I’m a new machine and hand sewer and quilter and this idea for glue basting is great. Thank you and I look forward to your newsletters!

  5. Lorraine M says:

    With tricky seams that have to be matched, I press the seam allowance on one piece only, glue baste the bottom unpressed fabric and which has the right side upwards. Slide the top one over for a perfect match aligning the seam crease with the bottom fabric. Then heat set.

      • Lorraine M says:

        I discovered this after many unpicks. It is easy to press the top fabric’s seam a 1/4” under. Then you have that edge to match the piece on the bottom.
        Glue further back from the edge though and heat set. Turn both over and stitch as normal. Imagine the turned under edge of your rug on the carpet.

  6. Joy says:

    I love to foundation paper piece but I struggle with stitching the sections together. I think this is the answer for me too. Thanks. I will try it on my faux, flange bindings too.

  7. Erin says:

    Great tutorial! I gave it a try. It Doesn’t take anymore time than pinning! Is it strange that I am now flying instead of pinning? I find it easier and faster to be honest!

  8. Jules says:

    I’ve been glue basting my labels on before adding binding (2 sides) and the other 2 that I handsew down. Great points you add for those pesky seams that HAVE to match!! ♥

  9. Melissa Coe says:

    Do you mind sharing the name of the gray fabric with the loops/swirls? You always choose the most fantastic combinations!!!

  10. Cin says:

    Genius! I needed this tip today,speny sooooo much time ripping seams out. I am also finding when I have to unpick seams that my blocks start to come apart – even when I have used a lock stitch…..

  11. Rhonda says:

    I thought when using the Elmers glue that it needed to be diluted? I did not see that you do that? Full disclosure, i sometimes have a mess when gluing so perhaps this is why!! Ha ha

    I have also tried glue basting. Swirling it on and ironing the layers together. My first attempt left the swirly pattern showing through the fabrics. It has eventually disappeared but it would not be fun for a gift!

    • Suzy Williams says:

      Diluting the glue isn’t necessary and would definitely make for a soupier situation 😉 One thing to consider when using glue in your sewing is that it can feel hard and, if you use a lot of glue, can be seen a little bit once it’s dry until the project is washed with water. Since the glue is water-based, it will fully wash away.

  12. Val says:

    Thanks so much, what a fabulous tutorial. Love having all the photos. I cant wait to try. Love seeing your newsletters pop up in my e-mail, always entertaining and informative. Stitch on…

  13. Martin Urberg says:

    I have been using Elmer’s glue sticks for basting for a few years now and it works well. It is especially useful for curved seams like Drunkard’s Path and Apple Core.

  14. Joan says:

    Seriously wonderful tip! I’ve had trouble “controlling” the glue stick and not till you wrote this sis I even think about liquid glue! Hurray! Thanks!

  15. Robyn Lidstone - Australia says:

    What wonderful advice about getting seams to be perfectly aligned.
    Thank you Suzy for sharing your expertise.
    I have this glue in my kit but have never used it. Time to get it out and follow your instructions.

  16. Karen says:

    Would using a hot glue gun with a precision tip work for seam basting? I couldn’t find if the glue sticks were washable. Also, I’ve used Aleene’s Fabric Glue before and it worked fine.

    • Laura Hopper says:

      Hi Karen! We don’t recommend using a hot glue gun because hot glue does not wash out. The best bet is to use washable glue so you don’t have a hard, inflexible line of glue running down the quilt back!

  17. Jillian says:

    Will glue help with sewing bias cut seams like some of the big triangles used in Suzy’s patterns (like adventureland?). Or is heavily starching my best plan?

    • Catalina Urias says:

      Oh that’s a neat idea! We are big fans of starching those bias cuts but please let us know if you try glue basting!

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