Voted by quilters like you
The 5 Best Fabric Glues and Basting Tapes, Voted by Our Customers
5 picks · 6 min read
There’s a moment in a lot of projects where pins just won’t do: a Dresden plate that needs to stay put on its background, a tiny English paper piecing hexagon, a zipper that wants to wander.
That’s what a dab of fabric glue or a strip of basting tape is for. These are the five our customers rate highest, and the jobs they use them for.
The short version
- Missouri Star Glue Pen — a thin, precise line for EPP and appliqué.
- Sue Daley Glue Pen — the refillable EPP favorite that holds through sewing.
- Roxanne Glue Stick — holds binding and seams for machine sewing.
- Aleene’s Temporary Fabric Glue Stick — a two-pack that washes out cleanly.
- ByAnnie Double-Sided Basting Tape — holds zippers and vinyl in place for bag making.
Key Takeaways
- A dot is enough. Fabric glue works best in small dabs, so one pen or stick lasts a long time.
- Use glue where pins distort. Appliqué, Dresdens, EPP and binding corners all lie flatter glued than pinned.
- Choose washable, temporary glue. It holds while you sew and rinses out in the first wash.
- Tape is for zippers. Narrow basting tape keeps zippers and vinyl from shifting while you stitch.
- Keep one by the machine. Several makers say it’s the tool they didn’t know they needed until they tried it.
The 5 Glues and Tapes, Voted By Our Customers
Missouri Star Glue Pen - Aqua
Water-soluble fabric glue pen
★★★★★
$1.75
A thin, precise line of glue for the fiddly jobs — Dresden blades, appliqué shapes and paper piecing. A little goes a long way, so it lasts.
Shop the glue penFeatured customer reviews
“Quick and easy glue pen”
I love making Dresdens and I use this glue pen to adhere them to backings. Way quicker and easier.
— Cindy
“Great for English Paper Piecing”
The thin line works great for English Paper Piecing. I like the thin line. I use it for just 1.
— Jean
“MSQC glue pen”
This was the perfect glue pen for a project that I was working on to save a vintage Christmas Tree skirt...worked like a charm!
— Linda LaCrone
Sue Daley Glue Pen
Refillable glue pen from Sue Daley
★★★★★
$11.40
The pen English paper piecers swear by. It glides on smoothly, holds through stitching, and takes refills, so it stays in your basket for years.
Shop the Sue Daley penFeatured customer reviews
“Great for EPP projects”
I love the ease of use. The size is perfect for glueing EPP papers and fabric. Yes, the glue has held after sewing.
— Tammy
“Another Sue Daly Gift”
Another Sue Daly gift for making my life easier. As I get older my fingers can no longer do all the little things a quilter|piecer wants to do and this handy pen makes it possible
— JOAN LUNDELL
“A glue gun”
Love it . It helps me with binding a quilt! Also any applique, Just a little dot to hold in place!
— Susan Ziff
Roxanne Glue Stick
Roxanne fabric glue stick
★★★★★
$8.25
A glue stick made for fabric and paper, strong enough to keep binding and seams in place while you machine sew. Makers who try it tend to go through one fast.
Shop the glue stickFeatured customer reviews
“Glue sticks”
Perfect for holding the binding on my quilts plus I use it on the half square triangles, espy when I’m chain piecing
— Jeannette Timko
“Great!”
I used this to hold two overlapping pieces of fabric together for a quilt backing. I was very happy with the result and the fabric did not slip as I sewed the seam. Perfect match.
— Lori McDonnough
“Roxanne Glue”
I love it, I had never done hand appliqué until I did the pillow out of Jenny’s Advent Box and it worked perfect for that.
— Debbie Bass
Aleene's Temporary Fabric Glue Stick - Two Pack
Two temporary fabric glue sticks
★★★★★
$3.95
A two-pack of temporary glue sticks that spread smoothly without globs or bunching. Makers use them for binding and paper piecing, and to hold small quilt sandwiches together.
Shop the 2 packFeatured customer reviews
“Great for binding without residue”
I like to use these glue sticks to help hold my binding in place while sewing it on. I don't notice any residue after washing.
— Verna
“Just the right amount of stickiness”
I love this glue. No big globs like other glue sticks. Not overly sticky. I use it for paper piecing for quilt pattern pieces.
— Debbie Cameron
“Glue stick”
this fabric glue stick works great to sandwich a quilt for quilting. It holds firm and doesn’t leave sticky substance behind.
— Elaine Gregurich
ByAnnie Double-Sided Basting Tape
1/8″ double-sided basting tape
★★★★★
$8.75
Narrow double-sided tape that holds a zipper or vinyl exactly where you put it. It’s thin enough to stitch beside or over, so it won’t make your machine skip.
Shop basting tapeFeatured customer reviews
“Works beautifully!”
I love this tape. I have a domestic machine and other double-sided tape makes it skip stitches. I don't have that problem with this tape. It's narrow (1/8th inch) so I can keep it out (while it still holds great!) or I can sew over it and not worry.
— Helen King
“Outstanding for zippers and bags”
Absolutely outstanding for placement of zippers!!! I use it for lots of travel and purse type bags. Great.
— Margaret
“Great product”
I used it to hold a zipper in place so the zipper would not shift when I was sewing it in place.
— Susan Fulton
How These Five Compare
| Glue or tape | Type | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Star Glue Pen - Aqua | Glue pen | EPP, Dresdens and appliqué | $1.75 |
| Sue Daley Glue Pen | Refillable glue pen | English paper piecing | $11.40 |
| Roxanne Glue Stick | Glue stick | Binding, HSTs and machine sewing | $8.25 |
| Aleene's Temporary Fabric Glue Stick - Two Pack | Glue stick, 2 pack | Binding and small quilt sandwiches | $3.95 |
| ByAnnie Double-Sided Basting Tape | Double-sided tape | Zippers, vinyl and bag making | $8.75 |
A tip from the notions wall: Glue the binding instead of pinning it: run a thin line of glue under the folded edge, press it with a dry iron to set, and stitch. The binding stays exactly where you put it, corners included.
If you only try one thing from this post, start with a glue pen. It’s inexpensive, it lasts, and it makes appliqué and paper piecing noticeably easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will fabric glue gum up my needle?
Not if you use a small amount and let it dry or set it with an iron first. Several reviewers above mention sewing right through without any trouble.
Does fabric glue wash out?
The temporary, water-soluble glues on this list are designed to hold while you sew and rinse out in the wash.
Can I use glue instead of pins for binding?
Yes, and many quilters prefer it. A thin line of glue under the fold, set with an iron, keeps the binding flat and the corners crisp.
What is basting tape for?
Holding pieces in place where pins would leave holes or shift — most often zippers, vinyl and bag panels. Narrow tape can be sewn right over.
Which glue is best for English paper piecing?
A glue pen. It lays down a thin, precise line so you can fold fabric over the paper template quickly and cleanly.
How were these picked?
By our customers. We looked at the glues and basting tapes in our shop with a meaningful review history, kept the ones you rate highest, removed anything out of stock, and quoted verified buyers directly. Quotes are trimmed for length only.