I have tried both thread basting and glue basting my fabric to the hexagon paper templates for English Paper Piecing. I 100% prefer glue basting! It is much faster to do and I feel the hexie shape is maintained better as I stitch. Also, because the paper templates aren't perforated with the needle they are in better condition to be reused.
For my first batch of work I used my Fons & Porter glue pen. It was in my supply kit already but I hadn't really ever used it. I can't recall why I purchased it in the first place but I'm glad it was there ready and waiting. I quickly used up the glue and pack of refills but it is a breeze to apply and works so well. I had to search a bit to buy more refills and realized it is quite an expensive way to baste (because I have so many hexagons to do!). In a pinch, when my pen was empty, I tried both a regular Elmer's school glue stick and Lapel Stick (fabric glue for collars and hems) and neither stuck as well and were very cumbersome to use. So, I have resolved to keep on with the pen-shape glue and suck up the cost (still a relatively small price to pay for excellent results and ease of application).
While I was in Florida I picked up a Sewline version of the fabric glue pen and a pack of refills. The various brands are really actually almost identical and in fact, the refills are interchangeable. Some have blue glue, some have pink but they work the same way. Sewline is made in Japan and darn that cute pink & butterfly pen barrel - just so pretty in the hexie project storage container!
One thing I found initially is that I had no idea how to insert the refill cartridges. I know it's not rocket science but I just couldn't figure it out. Apparently I'm not the only one and I found an excellent quick video demonstration on how to refill the glue pens (watch below). It so happens that the tutorial is by Helen Stubbings herself - the amazing Craftsy instructor who teaches the Quick & Easy English Paper Piecing class! She also shares some great tips on what to do with the empty plastic cartridges - I love that! I highly recommend glue basting for this type of quilting. It is so quick, convenient, and very effective.
You may be wondering about having the glue residue on your fabric (and quilt) but of course, it is perfectly safe, water soluble and washes away when the quilt is laundered. There is also no concern or problem removing the paper hexie templates when the time arrives. I save up a stack of the flowers over the week and then simply use my old Cricut spatula to gently run under the edge of the seam allowance. The papers pop right out and there are no threads to cut or pick. It's awesome!
Interesting, but not for me! I baste the fabrics without stitching through the papers, so the papers are reusable multiple times. And I never remove the basting as it is only on the back so can stay forever. Yes, it is slightly slower than the glue method, but much cheaper (virtually free) and doesn't create more plastic waste to pollute the world.
Posted by: Vireya | May 26, 2017 at 04:17 AM