As a fastener for clothes or fabric items, Velcro has no equal. For the keen dressmaker or arts and crafts hobbyist, it’s always on hand in the sewing room or studio.
Due to its unique construction of loops and hooks, Velcro has multiple uses. However, it works better with some materials than others.
Find out which fabrics Velcro patches will stick to and whether felt is on the list.
Does Velcro Stick To Felt?
Yes! It’s possible to stick items to fabric with a lot of tooth – or grip. Toothy fabrics have tiny strands of fiber called loops, which allow certain products to stick on easily – like Velcro.
Felt is a dense, non-woven fabric without any warp. It’s made from matted and compressed fibers with no visible threads and sticks well to the correct type of material.
The Interaction Between Velcro and Felt
Velcro is a hook-and-loop fastener with two thin strips, one with tiny hooks and the other with mini loops.
This fabric was invented by a Swiss engineer, Georges de Mestral, in the 1940s. After walking his dog in the woods, he noticed that little burrs from the burdock plant had stuck to his trousers and his dog’s fur.
De Mestral spent more than a decade trying to duplicate what he had looked at under a microscope before finally developing Velcro in 1955. When the patent expired in 1978, companies endlessly imitated the product. And much like Hoover or Kleenex, we still associate Velcro with the name, regardless of brand.
Velcro can stick to certain types of fabric – especially felt, as the two structures complement each other well.
Velcro Adhesive
The hook side’s roughness typically adheres to felt well, but some use an adhesive back product for even greater security.
If you’re using self-adhesive Velcro, it’s essential to ensure the felt surface is scrupulously clean before applying it. This product is quicker and easier to use than sew-on or iron-on equivalents.
Felt Thickness
Thinner felt tends to be more porous with a rougher surface, providing more texture for the Velcro to adhere to. Thicker felt may often be the fabric of choice, but it’s often too smooth for the sticky strips to adhere correctly. As you can see, felt type and thickness is essential.
Additionally, acrylic felt may only sometimes have adequate loops.
If you’re unsure about the quality and adherence of your felt, we recommend testing out a small area before applying. This step will save you both time and product!
Removal and Reapplication
Tearing the Velcro off and repeatedly reapplying it may not work either; it could create a stringy or dilute effect. Likewise, if you continue disturbing the loops, the material may become fuzzy and disrupt the security of the bond, causing it to lose its stickiness and effectiveness.
Continually applying and removing adhesive Velcro also damages the surface of the felt, making it harder to reuse the fabric for anything else. Who wants a cloudy, unkempt appearance? Sensitive and malleable felt is one of the easier materials to damage.
If you intend to apply, remove, and reapply Velcro products to felt regularly, we recommend using iron-on or sew-on strips.
Get started with your design today!
The Different Types of Fabric Velcro Sticks To
The adhesive side of sticky-back Velcro sticks well to thin, light fabrics, including nylon, polyester, and cotton.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft and natural fabric popular in the clothing and crafting worlds.
Additionally, Velcro sticks remarkably well to cotton, and the fabric is easy to work with and pliable. However, it’s essential to ensure that any cotton fabric is clean and free of dirt particles before you start.
Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fabric that doesn’t have the best eco-credentials but is nonetheless often worn in sportswear. Why? It’s durable and stands up to wear and tear, sweat, and repeated washing.
Velcro attaches well to polyester. Indeed, it’s a popular combination, as many clubs and societies use Velcro to attach badges and logos. Much like cotton, it’s important to ensure the polyester garment is clear of debris first.
Nylon
Nylon is another synthetic fabric often used for outdoor gear like camping accessories and equipment, as it’s water-resistant and rugged.
Velcro bonds well to nylon. Ensure the nylon surface is completely clean and dry before applying the product – otherwise, you may compromise its unique bond.
Attaching Velcro to Felt
Whichever option you choose, the essentials are straightforward. Your choice between permanent and temporary will dictate the right product to use. You’ve probably guessed that we recommend a clean and debris-free surface, no matter your fabric.
Permanently Attaching Velcro To Felt
If you’d like to attach Velcro permanently to felt, use either sew-on or glue-on products for the best effectivity and precision. These provide total security but a fair warning: they do take longer to apply than their adhesive equivalents.
Final Thoughts
Velcro and felt make the perfect partners – ideal for the craft studio and those looking to add a brand or logo to clothing or equipment. Velcro is versatile and available in different applications, depending on how temporary or permanent you want your addition to be.
If you’re searching for custom velcro patches for promotional purposes or your personal collection, why not see what The/Studio can do for you? Let your creativity soar!
