In January 2006 #122 No Fear Welt Pockets on p. 62 we are advised to glue-baste the welts of the pocket. I understand this instruction, but what I can’t manage is the GLUE. I have tried every type/brand and find it doesn’t hold, is gummy, unmanagable, clogs my needle. I live in a damp climate and have stored it in air-tight boxes, in the refrigerator, out of the refrigerator, you name it. Am I letting it dry too long? Am I not letting it dry long enough? What brand is the neatest to use?
I have slightly better results with wonder tape. On this pocket application could I use this? Thanks for your help. mygaley
Replies
I glue up my piece, weigh it down with a couple of books and leave it to dry overnight. This works great. I am using some clear craft glue bought at a garage sale.
Previous experience matches yours.
Thanks, Beth. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who can't make this stuff work. Mygaley
I have used both Avery glue stick and Elmers. Both have worked fine for me. I use the glue sparingly, only enough to hold the welts in place for the few minutes it takes to get them sewn in. I find that the glue stick works better than pin or hand basting. I get a more precise placement of my welts.
HTH!
Ann
Thanks for the recommendations. Do you put it on and let it dry? How long? Don't assume I know anything.
Is this glue stick just an ordinary one you can use on paper and kids projects or is it a textiles one ???
I have tried every different kind that I can find. What kind do you use and what is your procedure?
I use regular school glue, either from Elmers or Avery (whichever I happen to pick up from Staples when I am in there). I apply it sparingly to the organza after I have pulled it to the wrong side, pressed and let cool. I then place my welt lips on the organza, and press them for a few seconds with my hands. I don't find that I need to let it dry over night. As long as you don't load the glue up too heavily, you shouldn't have a problem with gunked needles. After a few minutes, I take the piece to the machine and sew.HTH
Ann
Do you glue the lips on too? I have a way of making them exactly even which is to cut two identical lip rectangles the right size for the lips , fuze the wrong sides with interfacing , place the rectangles right sides together and sew down the centre with large stitches .Then fold them back so that you are faced with the right sides and press very well Line up the stitching line on the lips with that centre of the cut out box and the attach as described in the article. This method also works very well for bound buttonholes.When the pocket has been finished then pull out the stitching down the center of the pocket lips
In our dry climate, glue sticks are often dried up as soon as I take the cap off! To hold the welts, I use clear cello tape after ironing. It has just enough tackiness to hold the fabric but not enough to clog the needle. After stitching, just peel it off. I also use a length of clear cello tape to mark the initial stitching lines for the window/box. Just make sure not to iron the tape!
Try Sulky's temporary spray adhesive to adhere the welts. I had wonderful results just this morning with this product. This is the first time I have used it. I bought it with a sewing gift certificate my daughter gave me.
I don't know which part of the welt you want to nail down: the long strips or those nerve wracking corner triangles. If a spray area would be too wide, then try one of those tiny, micro-brushes (Nancy's Notions.com) that picks up just enough adhesive and allows for precision placement. These little brushes are precise enough to apply make-up to cover individual blemishes. Their softness allows the make-up to be feathered out so no line shows. I have also used them to apply clear nail polish to stop runs in hose.
I have had great success in using these brushes to apply glue from a glue stick or glue in liquid form. If you find that the glue does not want to cooperate with you, one of these brushes will allow you to use a stronger glue since the brush is capable of applying a micro-dot of glue.
However, I feel the temporary adhesive will do the trick even if you have to use your hand to shield the garment from the spray area. Of course, this will require a few sewingroom gymnastic contortions---but it can be done.
Wunmi'Mom
Dear Wunmismom, It's great to hear from you again. Thank you for this product recommendation. I have had such hopeless luck with glue sticks I had gone back to hand basting everything and I need to modernize. God bless you. Mygaley
David Coffen's shirt book tells you to use the glue and iron it. It works quickly which is always my need as I don't want to take time to let it dry! This way no gumming of the needle.
Nancy
Ironing dry is a really good idea. I am going to use that! I am testing the welt pocket instructions from the latest issue and using glue is, IMHO, more accurate than basting, , as long as I turn over the pocket to get welts in straight. : )
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