This is the link to the fully you tube tutorial https://youtu.be/phB8bDLiDxs
Table of Contents
Cassie Cartmell – Faodail Creation
If you’re looking for an easier way to prepare your English Paper Piecing projects, Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is a technique you’ll love. Instead of stitching the fabric around each paper template, you can use a water-soluble fabric glue to temporarily hold the fabric in place. It’s quick, accurate, and perfect for sewing at home or while traveling.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how I use Glue Basting English Paper Piecing with cardstock templates and a Sewline glue pen. Whether you’re completely new to English Paper Piecing (EPP) or looking for a faster method, you’ll soon discover why so many quilters have switched to glue basting.
One of the biggest advantages of Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is how much time it can save without sacrificing accuracy. Traditional thread basting is a wonderful technique that many quilters still enjoy, but using a glue pen allows you to prepare your fabric pieces much more quickly. This means you can spend less time preparing templates and more time stitching your beautiful quilt designs together.
Another reason so many quilters enjoy Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is its portability. Since you don’t need an iron or needle and thread for the basting stage, you can easily prepare your hexagons while traveling, sitting in the waiting room, relaxing in front of the television, or enjoying time with family. Simply pack your cardstock templates, fabric pieces, glue pen, and scissors into a small project bag, and you’re ready to sew wherever inspiration strikes.
Don’t let the word “glue” fool you. With Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, the glue isn’t intended to permanently hold your project together. Instead, it acts as a temporary helping hand, keeping the fabric neatly folded around the paper template until you’ve stitched the pieces together. Because the glue is water-soluble, it washes away easily when it’s time to remove the paper templates, making it both convenient and quilt-friendly.
Whether you’re creating a colourful hexagon quilt, a table runner, a cushion cover, or a small zipper pouch, Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is a simple technique that can make your sewing more enjoyable, more portable, and more efficient. Once you try this method, you may find it becomes your favourite way to prepare every English Paper Piecing project.
Why Choose Glue Basting English Paper Piecing?
Glue Basting English Paper Piecing has become increasingly popular because it saves time while keeping your fabric securely wrapped around the paper templates. Instead of hand basting every edge with thread, the glue temporarily holds the fabric until the pieces are stitched together.
Some of the biggest advantages include:
- Faster than traditional thread basting
- Perfect for beginners
- Neat, crisp edges
- Ideal for sewing while traveling
- Water-soluble glue removes easily
- Paper templates stay securely inside while stitching
Because the glue is only used for basting, your final stitches not the glue hold the quilt together.
Supplies You’ll Need for Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
Before getting started, gather the following supplies:
Templates – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
I like using cardstock templates because they are sturdy and hold their shape well while folding the fabric over the edges.
For this tutorial I’m using:
- 2-inch cardstock hexagon templates
- 2½-inch fabric squares
- Cotton quilting fabric
Fabric Glue – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
The glue I use is the Sewline fabric glue pen.
The pen twists open and closed, and when the glue runs out you simply replace the refill instead of buying another pen. The refills are inexpensive and available from many quilting stores as well as online retailers.
No matter which brand you choose, most fabric glue pens work in a very similar way.
How to Use Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking you’re supposed to glue the entire paper template to the fabric.
You’re not.
That’s where many beginners become frustrated.
With Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, you’re only using a tiny amount of glue to temporarily baste the fabric around the paper template exactly like thread basting, only much faster.
The key is to remember that the glue is not acting as a permanent adhesive. Instead, it simply holds the fabric neatly in place while you prepare each shape for stitching. Using only a thin line of water-soluble glue helps create crisp, accurate folds without making the fabric stiff or difficult to sew through.
Once your English Paper Piecing shapes have been stitched together, the glue has done its job, and the paper templates can be removed and reused for future projects.
Step 1 – Position Your Template – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
Place your cardstock hexagon in the center of your fabric square.
Because I’m using a 2-inch hexagon, a 2½-inch fabric square gives me enough excess fabric to wrap neatly around each edge.
Step 2 – Apply a Small Line of Glue – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
Remember:
This isn’t an arts and crafts project.
Only apply a very thin strip of glue slightly below the edge of the cardstock.
Avoid putting glue right on the edge or covering the entire paper template.
Less is definitely more.
Step 3 – Fold the Fabric Over – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
Fold the fabric over the glued edge and gently press it into place.
The cardstock provides a nice firm edge, making it easy to achieve crisp folds every time.
Continue around each side of the hexagon until every edge has been folded neatly.
Don’t Forget These Helpful Tips – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
As you work through Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, keep these tips in mind:
Always Replace the Cap
Whenever you’re not using the glue pen, replace the cap immediately.
This prevents the glue from drying out and helps your glue pen last much longer.
Use Only a Small Amount of Glue
More glue doesn’t make the project stronger.
The glue is simply holding everything together temporarily until the pieces are stitched by hand.
When using Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, the goal is to secure the fabric, not completely coat the template with adhesive. A small, controlled amount of glue will hold the folded edges in place while still allowing you to easily remove the paper templates later.
Applying too much glue can make the fabric feel stiff and may make removing the templates more difficult. A light touch with your glue pen will give you the best results. Remember, the stitching is what creates the strength and durability of your finished English Paper Piecing project.
By using just enough glue to hold the fabric securely, you will create neat, accurate shapes while making your quilting process faster and more enjoyable.
Water-Soluble Makes Removal Easy
One of my favourite features of Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is that the glue is completely water-soluble.
When your project is ready and it’s time to remove the paper templates, simply dampen the fabric lightly with water to help release any remaining glue.
Stitching Your Hexagons Together – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
After every hexagon has been basted, you’re ready to stitch them together using your preferred English Paper Piecing method.
Unlike traditional thread basting, I prefer leaving the cardstock templates inside while sewing all of the hexagons together. This helps each shape maintain its accuracy throughout the project.
Once the surrounding hexagons have been stitched securely, you can carefully remove the paper templates and reuse them for future projects.
When stitching your hexagons together, take your time and match the edges carefully before sewing. Using small, even whip stitches or ladder stitches will help create nearly invisible seams on the front of your project. The temporary glue keeps the fabric wrapped tightly around the cardstock, making it much easier to align each edge accurately as you sew.
One of the biggest advantages of Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is that the cardstock templates remain firm while you’re assembling your quilt. This added stability helps maintain sharp corners and consistent seam allowances, especially when joining multiple hexagons into larger blocks or intricate designs.
As your project grows, continue joining one hexagon at a time until you’ve completed your desired layout. Once each paper template is surrounded by stitched hexagons, gently remove it so it can be used again in another project. Reusing your templates not only saves money but also makes Glue Basting English Paper Piecing an economical and environmentally friendly quilting technique that you’ll enjoy using again and again.
Why I Changed My Mind About Glue Basting – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
Years ago I tried glue basting and honestly wasn’t impressed.
Looking back, I realized I was using far too much glue because I thought everything needed to be glued down completely.
Once I understood that Glue Basting English Paper Piecing is simply another form of basting not permanent gluing everything changed.
Now I find it much easier to prepare hexagons while relaxing, watching television, or sewing away from my ironing board.
The biggest lesson I learned was that less glue really is better. A thin line of water-soluble glue is all you need to hold the fabric in place while you wrap it around the cardstock template. Once I stopped treating the process like an arts and crafts project and started thinking of it as temporary basting, the entire technique became faster, cleaner, and much more enjoyable.
Today, Glue Basting English Paper Piecing has become my preferred way to prepare EPP shapes. I can work almost anywhere without needing an iron, needle, or thread just to baste the fabric. Whether I’m travelling, sitting outside on a nice day, or enjoying a quiet evening at home, I can easily prepare dozens of hexagons ready for stitching. It has made English Paper Piecing much more portable and relaxing, allowing me to spend more time creating beautiful quilts and less time preparing each individual shape.
Final Thoughts on Glue Basting English Paper Piecing – Glue Basting English Paper Piecing
If you’ve never tried Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s fast, portable, beginner-friendly, and produces beautifully prepared hexagons ready for stitching.
Whether you’re making a quilt, table runner, cushion, pouch, or another English Paper Piecing project, this technique can save time while helping you achieve accurate results.
I hope this tutorial has helped you understand how simple glue basting really is. Remember, you’re not using the glue as a permanent adhesive you’re simply using it to baste the fabric temporarily until your stitching takes over.
Once you become comfortable with Glue Basting English Paper Piecing, you’ll likely find that your preparation time is much shorter, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the hand-stitching process. It’s an excellent technique for beginners who want accurate results and experienced quilters looking for a faster, more convenient way to prepare their EPP shapes. Best of all, because the glue is water-soluble, cleanup is simple and your paper templates can often be reused for future quilting projects.
Happy sewing!
If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to explore my other sewing and quilting tutorials here at Faodail Creation. You’ll find hundreds of beginner-friendly projects covering quilting, English Paper Piecing, machine embroidery, appliqué, and sewing techniques to help you build your skills one project at a time.
Read this next : English Paper Piecing Travel Kit: Everything You Need for Sewing on the Go https://faodailcreation.ca/2026/03/12/english-paper-piecing-travel-kit/
- How to Applique | FREE Sunflower Applique Sewing Pattern for Beginners
- How to Sew a Tote Bag : Easy and Brilliant Knitting Project Bag Tutorial
- How to Embroider Fabric Labels – A Fun and Easy Sewing Project
- How to Free Motion Quilt Half Square Triangles – Easy Ruler Work Tutorial
- How to Applique – Daisy Lap Quilt – A Beautiful Beginner-Friendly Quilt
