If you do a lot of DIY craft projects, you may have discovered that not all glues work on felt. Many common household glues are too runny and will penetrate the felt materials instead of holding them together. The best glue for felt has a thicker consistency that adheres to the surface of the material rather than soaking into it. When you buy, consider where you plan to stick the felt, as this will largely determine whether you should use sticky, heat, spray or superglue.
Tacky glues work for most felt projects and are a convenient option for crafting with kids, but they tend to form a weak bond, and if you're adhering the felt to a smooth or non-porous surface, they won't efficient. Hot glue is great for getting a more reliable bond and is best used when gluing felt to felt, but it is less safe for children due to the heat. Spray glues (which cover large areas quickly) and permanent glues such as Super Glue (which provide the strongest bond) can generally be used on the widest range of surfaces, including smooth surfaces like plastics and metals. However, these options typically require more precise application, are not the safest options for children to craft, and may develop a strong odor before curing.
Based on manufacturer recommendations and reviews, I've indicated some materials that each glue on this list should be used with - but keep in mind that every material and application is unique, especially since felt can be tricky to adhere to. Before purchasing glue for your specific project, it's worth double-checking the specific manufacturer's instructions. As with any project involving children, always keep the relevant safety precautions in mind.
Scroll down to find some of the best glues for getting crafty and creative with felt.
1. Best felt glue overall
Aleene's sticky glue can be used in a variety of felt applications. In addition to felt, it works on wood, foam, paper, and fabric. Reviewers have also specifically reported success with gluing felt to ceramic and other felts. It dries clear, flexible and non-toxic. Plus, it's water-soluble, so if you're using it on fabric, make sure it's something that doesn't require washing, as this will dissolve the glue. Aleene specifies that the glue dries in 30 to 40 minutes. This is a great glue to use if you plan on crafting with your kids because it's non-toxic, doesn't have a strong smell, and is the easiest glue to clean up on this list.
One reviewer wrote: "Exactly what I expected. Used it to adhere squares of felt to tiles to make coasters, and so far the felt stays on the tiles well. I also like the lid , you can turn it "upside down" to make sure the glue is there without having to wait for the glue to come out."
2. Best glue for sticking felt to felt
Hot glue is a quick and effective way to adhere felt to a variety of surfaces, including fabric, foam, wood, metal, plastic, and glass, but is especially effective for adhering felt to other pieces of felt. This Gorilla Hot Glue Gun Kit has everything you need for gluing and comes with a hot glue gun with stand and 30 glue sticks. (You can also buy kits that contain 45 or 75 glue sticks.) The glue gun has low- and high-temperature settings for different materials—the temperature setting you use depends on where you want the felt to stick and how it feels like you're working with it. The glue stick is available in two temperature settings, is clear, and dries in just 45 seconds, making it a great method for projects where you don't want to wait for the glue to dry.
Due to the heat of the glue, this may not be the ideal method if you are making with young children as it requires close supervision.
One reviewer writes: "I used this to re-back a very heavy bear rug. The glue was perfect for attaching the felt backing. I then sewed the D-rings to the felt and hung the rug on the wall .The glue shows no signs of degradation or separation and holds up very, very well. The carpet weighs about 40 pounds, so it's quite a load. ”
3. Best Glue for Large Felt Projects
Scotch Super 77 Adhesive Spray is a spray adhesive that, according to the manufacturer, can bond to fabric, cardboard, plastic, metal, wood, and of course, felt. Since it is a spray, it can be applied to large areas very quickly, which is great for large projects. One of the benefits of this type of spray adhesive is that you can reposition the material shortly after application if needed. One customer testified, "There's just the right amount of stickiness that allows me to move things around and straighten them before the glue sets. Once it dries, it won't let go easily." It dries clear, but when applied It does have an odor, so be sure to follow the safety instructions on the can before use, and it's best to use it outdoors if you're particularly sensitive. Therefore, it may not be the best glue to use when crafting with children.
One reviewer wrote: “Great product and as always fast shipping via Prime. We used this product to replace the felt on our pool table and it served its purpose well. For any tricky situation, I highly recommend this product.”
4. Best Heavy Duty Glue for Felt
If you want to bond felt to a variety of materials, including non-porous materials, this Loctite super glue is a great adhesive to try. Loctite notes that the glue is best used with wood, metal, ceramic, leather, rubber, and "most plastics," and reviewers report that it can successfully secure felt attachments to furniture legs and glue eyes to On or even glued to felt animal crafts. Felt seal on dryer lint collector. The glue takes just a minute to seal, but takes 24 hours to fully cure for a lasting bond. Plus, its gel consistency helps prevent it from completely soaking into the felt. Because of its extremely strong adhesion and fast drying time, it's best not to use super glue when making with children.
One reviewer wrote: “I used this to look at the needle felted animals I made. It held the eyes in place well and the applicator made it easy to glue the little eyes on. Other glues I’ve tried left more Lots of residue and harder to use.”
