What Is The Best Fabric Glue For Denim? (9 How To Use Tips)
Fabric glue is not your everyday glue. When tears and rips take place in your favorite clothes, the usual everyday glues, wood, paste and so on, are not the solutions to the problem. To fix your favorite clothes you need the right fabric glue for the job.
What is the best fabric glue for denim? The best glue is one that is designed to hold heavy fabrics like denim together and allow you to do your normal routine without worrying about the hold. The glue should be waterproof, permanent, and easy to use.
To learn about which fabric glue is good for denim, just continue to read our article. It does the research for you so you can spend less time in the store and more time on more important tasks.
Tip 1: This will always be in a tip list, make sure you clean all fabrics that you are going to apply glue. The glue won’t work well, if at all if you do not clean the fabric.
Tip 2: Turn your denim garment inside out and place a piece of cardboard between the rip and the other side of the garment.
Can You Use Fabric Glue On Denim?
Yes it is possible to use fabric glue when your denim clothes get a hole in them and you are not ready to toss them into the trash bin. There are lots of good brands available for you to work with.
The best one to use would be a liquid fabric glue and you only want to put a thin layer across the fabrics that you are using. The reason for the thin layer is that fabric glue can make the denim a little stiff.
The brand Tear mender adhesive, the 16-ounce size, has been labeled as good for denim. You can also try fabric Fusion from Aleene’s or Beacon Fabri-Tac as the latter is good for leather. If it works for leather, denim should be a breeze for that glue to hold together.
Tip 3: if the fabric does not stay in one place very well, you can use some masking tape to hold it in position until the gluing application is over.
Does Fabric Glue Work On Denim?
Yes, it will but you need to follow the directions to make sure you have enough glue on the denim and patch to have the glue hold. Also, the type of glue you use is important.
Temporary glue is not a good option as it is not designed to permanently fix holes in denim. You will want to use a permanent glue that is waterproof. That way you know the glue will do its job and you can wear your denim garments worry-free.
The key is in how you apply the glue and if you let it dry long enough before you wear the clothing again. Also, you should not wash the garment right away but give the glue a good opportunity to adhere to the fibers.
Now if you are gluing denim to other materials other than clothing, fabric glue may not be a good adhesive to turn to in order to get the job done right. Other glues like epoxy, PVA glue, and even a spray glue will do the job better.
The glue you use will depend on the surfaces you are attaching the denim.
Tip 4: If the tear is large and you need a large piece of denim to fix it, use tailor’s chalk to outline where you want the glue to go. Tailor’s chalk is not permanent and should disappear soon.
How do You Glue Fabric to Denim?
The first step is in choosing the right glue. As has been mentioned you want the glue to be permanent, in most cases, and waterproof. The next criteria is to buy a tube or bottle that has a needle nose. This design helps you apply the glue a lot easier and faster. It also helps avoid making a mess.
The second step is to decide what you are going to do with the glue. The type of glue you need depends a lot on the purpose of your project. If your project is just for basting then a temporary glue that washes out is perfect for that task.
If you are repurposing an old denim jacket etc., then you will want a permanent glue that is waterproof. Once those decisions are made, applying the glue is very simple and easy. It is just like applying glue to stick two pieces of paper together.
Make sure you have a good backstop so you do not stain the clothes or glue them together at the wrong spot. Plus, double-check where you want to place the glue. Now, most fabric glues may dry fast so your fabrics should be ready to go and in line with each other.
You do not want to waste any time trying to line all the pieces up. Then once the lining up is done add the right amount of weight for firm pressure and let dry.
Tip 5: If you do not get a tube with a needle nose top, use a fan brush to apply the glue in a nice even thin layer.
What is The Best Fabric Glue for Denim?
There are probably scores of different fabric glue for denim. The trick is to narrow down the selection to the ones that will work the best on your denim projects or clothes. A lot will depend on the type of purpose you have for the fabric glue.
One good selection would be Tear Mender TG06H Fabric and Leather Adhesive. It's non-toxic, all-natural, flexible, and also waterproof and washable. Then you do not need any heat or solvents to get it to cure. It is strong enough for leather so it should work on denim quite well.
Another brand would be Aleene's Permanent Fabric Adhesive which comes with a strong bond and its strengths are its lack of odor, its ability to stay flexible after being washed, and it is also non-toxic.
Keeping with the Aleene family of adhesive there is also Aleene's Platinum Bond Adhesive. It provides industrial-strength hold. This version is non-toxic. Machine washable, water-resistant and it has a very good grasp of the fabric.
Finally, there is Dritz 401 Fabric Glue. It is an inexpensive temporary glue that will help you when you are basting or patching different denim garments. There will be times when you want to fix a problem by sewing. This glue will hold the fabric in place until you are done.
Tip 6: Once you have the glue in place, simply press firmly and but enough weight on the clothing and let dry. Once the glue is cured, you should be able to wear your clothing item again.
How to Get Fabric Glue Out of Denim
It will happen at some point in time. For some reason, you got drops of fabric glue on the wrong spot on your jeans, etc., and need to remove it. Waiting for several cycles of washing takes too long and can be a little bit expensive if not damaging to your denim clothing.
The good news is that there are a few ways to remove the glue when these accidents take place. First, there is nail polish remover but this works only on white or colorless fabrics. Second, you could use steam heat but that may be a bit time-consuming.
Third, you can try 2 parts baking soda and one part coconut oil. Spread it on using a toothbrush then rinse with liquid laundry soap. Wash after that. Next, you can try stain remover to see if that works on your brand of fabric glue.
Finally, you can use a fingernail, dull knife, or a credit card edge and manually scrape the glue off your clothes.
Tip 7: make sure to do a test first. Sometimes labels do not tell the whole truth and the glue may stain certain fabrics. The test will answer that question for you and tell you if it will stain or not.
Best Fabric Glue for Patching Jeans
Part of your repair work using fabric glue is the type of situation you are facing. If the tear is small and you do not have a lot of time at present, you can use temporary fabric glue to hold the fabric in place until you get the time to sew the hole upright.
Temporary glues have their place in the repair process and can be a big help to you when the situation is right. If you have the time and do not want to waste any of it doing a temporary hold, then any of the brand glues mentioned above will handle the patch with ease.
The trick is to make sure you glue both pieces of fabric to get that solid hold you want. Also, you want to make sure that the glue will be flexible even after washing. Besides, you do not need a thick layer of glue to have the patch hold.
Tip 8: When applying fabric or any type of glue, make sure to do it in a well-ventilated area. That will protect you and make sure you do not get light headed as you work.
What to Look for When Buying Fabric Glue
There are a lot of different fabric glues on the market today. The size of selection you may have can make one’s head spin. That is why knowing what to look for is essential.
That knowledge cuts down your shopping time, it helps you find the best glue available and you may be able to save some money. Here are some tips to help you know what to look for:
- 1. Make sure the glue is water-resistant or waterproof
This helps you divide the temporary glues from the permanent ones. That division cuts down on your selected size and helps you find a good permanent glue that will withstand lots of washing.
- 2. Look for non marking glues
This is an important element as the last thing you want is for someone to notice the glued area on your clothes or jeans. Hopefully, the word transparent is on the label.
- 3. Size matters
Usually, a lot of the fabric glues come in small tubes but those are only good for a few repairs. You may want to go larger in size but not too much larger as you do not want to waste any glue. That may happen if the glue sits for long periods and dries out.
- 4. Price
Some fabric glues can be expensive. Look for a good glue that has all the elements you want at the price you want to pay. sometimes paying more is the best way to go.
Tip 9: Don’t stretch the fabric when gluing it together with another piece of material. If you do you won’t get a good look or a good bond.
Some Final Words
Fabric glue is a lifesaver at times. It helps you repair clothes quickly and when you do not have a lot of time to spare. The hold you get from using the right glue lets you and your family walk around worry-free.
The key to using fabric glue is to follow the instructions on the package and use a little commonsense. Make sure to protect the parts of the denim you do not want glue to be on.
Then depending on your denim project, you can use a variety of different glues if the fabric version you have won’t work that well. Different surfaces are not all friendly to fabric glue. The right tool for the job applies to fabric glues as well.
