Velcro hook and loop tape is unmatched as a fastener for clothing or other fabric goods. It’s always available in the sewing room or studio for the enthusiastic seamstress or arts and crafts enthusiast.
Velcro has a variety of applications because of the way its loops and hooks are constructed. But certain materials work better with it 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.
Georges de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, created this fabric in the 1940s. He discovered that small burrs from the burdock plant had adhered to both his trousers and his dog’s fur after taking him for a walk in the woods.
Before creating Velcro in 1955, De Mestral attempted to replicate what he had seen under a microscope for over ten years. Following the patent’s expiration in 1978, businesses continued to copy the product. And regardless of brand, we still connect Velcro with the moniker, much like we do with Hoover or Kleenex.
Velcro tape fabric 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
More texture is provided for the Velcro to stick to by thinner felt, which has a tendency to be rougher and more porous. Although thicker felt is frequently preferred, the sticky strips frequently don’t stick well to it since it’s too smooth. As you can see, felt thickness and type are crucial.
Additionally, the loops on acrylic felt might not always be sufficient.
It is advisable to test a small area before applying felt if you are not confident about its quality and adhesion. You’ll save product and time by taking this step!
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.