Short answer: first decide whether the glue has to hold for good or only until you stitch. For a permanent, washable no-sew bond on hems, patches and trim, compare Aleene’s Fabric Fusion (washable after 48 hours), Beacon Fabri-Tac (washable after 24 hours, fast grab) and Gorilla Waterproof Fabric Glue (wait 3 days before washing or ironing). All three dry clear. For temporary basting, which holds fabric in place while you sew and then washes out, use a water-soluble glue such as the Sewline Glue Pen or Roxanne Glue-Baste-It. Skip glue as the main fix for straps, waistbands and other seams that take real load.

Everything below comes from the makers’ product pages and instructions. Sewing Made Clear has not tested bond strength or wash durability.

Fabric glues compared

Product Type Dries Wait before washing Dry cleaning Maker’s notes
Aleene’s Fabric Fusion, 4 oz Permanent Clear, stays flexible after washing 48 hours; full cure 2 to 4 hours Not stated Wash inside out on gentle; low-temperature dryer. Lists cotton, denim, flannel, leather, jersey, ribbon, trims, sequins and beads
Beacon Fabri-Tac, 4 oz Permanent Clear; 1 hour dry 24 hours Do not dry clean “Grabs fast” and “won’t soak into fabrics.” Bonds fabric, lace, leather, trims, glass and wood
Gorilla Waterproof Fabric Glue, 2.5 oz Permanent Crystal clear, flexible when cured; 24-hour cure 3 days, also before ironing Do not dry clean Apply to both surfaces, wait 1 to 2 minutes, press. Delicate wash, low or no heat. Lists cotton, denim, polyester, felt, beads, sequins and ribbon
Sewline Water-Soluble Fabric Glue Pen, blue, with refill Temporary Blue glue dries clear Washes out (water soluble) n/a Pieces can be pulled apart and repositioned. Made for quilting, appliqué, hemming and English paper piecing
Roxanne Glue-Baste-It, 0.5 oz Temporary Clear and flexible Holds “until moistened or washed” n/a 100% water-soluble, pH neutral. For appliqué, hems and quilt binding

Prices on Amazon on October 3, 2026 ranged from about $7 (Fabric Fusion 4 oz) to about $12 (Fabri-Tac 4 oz).

How to choose

Permanent or temporary. A water-soluble basting glue is not a no-sew hem. Sewline and Roxanne describe their glues as holding fabric for sewing, and both release when wet. If the item will never be stitched, you need a permanent glue.

How the item is cleaned. Read the wait time before the first wash: 24 hours for Fabri-Tac, 48 hours for Fabric Fusion, 3 days for Gorilla. Beacon and Gorilla both say not to dry clean, so for dry-clean-only items, look for a product whose label allows dry cleaning or sew the repair instead.

Pressing. Gorilla says to wait 3 days before ironing. If a project needs pressing soon after gluing, choose a different product or press before you glue.

Working time. Fabri-Tac is sold on a fast grab. Gorilla asks you to let the glue partly dry for 1 to 2 minutes before joining. For curved appliqué or trim that needs adjusting, a temporary glue (followed by stitching) gives you the most room to reposition.

Stretch. Aleene’s lists jersey and both Aleene’s and Gorilla say the bond stays flexible. Even so, a glue line does not stretch the way a knit does, so test the glued area at the stretch the garment needs.

Test before the real project

On a scrap of the same fabric, apply the glue the way the label says, wait the full cure time, then check the right side for seep-through or shine and bend the glued area. If the item will be washed, wait the stated time and put the scrap through the same wash. A scrap test checks appearance and basic adhesion; it does not prove a glued seam can carry load.

When to sew instead

For shoulder seams, waistbands, straps, bag handles and heavily worn jeans hems, sew the repair. Glue can hold a patch or hem in position while you stitch it. For knit garments that need full stretch, our knit sewing machine guide covers stitch and feed options.

Sources