This past week in my monthly Patreon Show and Share Zoom Meeting, a very basic but very important question came up: How do I approach gluing when I have hundreds of pins in the way?
Let’s say you’ve been working on piecing your fabric collage for days, weeks, maybe months. You’ve got hundreds of tiny pieces of fabric each held in place by one or more pins—worse yet, there are layers of pinned fabric involved. Look at the image of my lace fabric collage above. Poor “Winfrieda” looks more like a hedgehog she’s got so many pins in her.
Usually my rule of thumb for when to glue is either: 1. You have run out of pins and have to free up a few. Or 2. You have so many pins in the way that you can’t work around them.
Either way, it’s probably past time you did some gluing. I imagine some of you are saying, just run to the store and buy more pins! Though I must say I am guilty of that, it’s not something I recommend—it just delays the inevitable task of glueing. It’s easier on your arms and hands, and maybe neck, to break up gluing into smaller chunks throughout your project (says the woman who’s removing a few thousand pins as she glues an 8-foot tall polar bear…).
Anyway, my advice is to start at the top of the pinned pile and work down. Glue what’s on top to what’s immediately underneath it, creating a glued pair unit. Then glue that two-piece unit to what’s under them. And so on until you reach the last bit of unsecured fabric (or maybe it’s all the way down to your foundation fabric!). You remove the pins as you go.
I realize this approach to gluing may seem counterintuitive, but what’s the option—removing all those top pieces to get down to the base?? That’s not really an option, is it? You gotta trust me on this one.
For more on using glue and why I use glue, read this week’s classic post “Why Glue?”
Live Online Classes Fall 2023
For more information on both classes, click here.
September 25-29, 2023
Live Online Fabric Collage ALL LEVELS Class with Susan Carlson–Animals Only
Class size is limited to 10 students.
$1,195
Subject matter limited to animals only. Suitable for all levels of students. Subjects limited to animals.
October 16-20, 2023
Live Online ADVANCED STUDENTS Class with Susan Carlson
Class size is limited to 8 students.
$1,495
In an advanced class we ask that a student have taken at least two classes or other fabric collage learning venues from Susan (e-Workshops, private coaching, Patreon Show-and-Share) so I have an idea if this level will be a good fit for you. If so, Tom will then send you a link to sign up for the class.
Facial Features eWorkshop
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- Eight videos (over 8 hours combined length) collected into one convenient and organized spot
- Each annotated with “Jump Points” allowing you to scan forward and backward to the information you need
- Facial Features Templates included as PDF’s to download and work along with
- Like the Fabric Collage Online Master Class, membership in this eWorkshop is for life
$99
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(With a special Summertime offer good from now through August 31st, 2023)
Fabric Collage Master Class
For instructions on the entire fabric collage process, you can purchase the Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Online Master Class Manual. Using video, photos, and text I take you from soup to nuts, beginning to end in creating your own fabric collage masterpiece.
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage: Spiral eWorkshop
Wondering if fabric collage is for you? This eWorkshop is intended for beginners in fabric collage. The spiral project is simple, low stress, but still teaches the basic techniques of fabric collage. It also serves as a handy refresher course for those with more experience.
Susan Carlson Fabric Collage: Sea Turtle eWorkshop
Learn fabric collage with Susan Carlson. Each step is clearly written, illustrated with photos, and demonstrated with video. Learn with a Sea Turtle then launch into any fabric collage project you wish.
Serendipity Quilts for Sale
$29.95 plus shipping. Full color throughout. Four complete projects, start to finish, of increasing complexity. Learn fabric collage with this book.