What glue to use with stretch fabric

Rachel asks: Can you please tell me which fabric glue is the best for applying lace (and other fabrics) to Tank tops and T-shirts that are made out of stretch fabric? I need a glue that will not show thru the lace or on the actual tank top (an invisible glue, if possible). And please remember that the shirts I will be working with are made out of stretch fabric therefore the glue must work with the fabric as well.

We don’t suggest gluing anything that will be washed. You should probably sew it. That said – Aleene’s does make a stretch fabric glue but they state it will hold up to hand washing only.
Hope this helps,
Judi

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What glue to use to hang slate

Chrissy asks: How do I stick hangers onto the back of slate so I can hang it on the wall without drilling holes in the slate?

I would try the two-part epoxies. They have been used for tack welding metal so it should be able to hold the hanger to the slate. I would use some sandpaper to scuff up the slate, if possible, before gluing.
Hope this works!
Judi

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How to set glitter on wood

I'd like to know how to get the glitter on wood to set. I have spread glue and then sprinkled glitter on wood and want it to stay and not come off or shed. Is there a spray that I can spray on the glitter to make it stay without the glitter shedding off? Thanks.

I asked the Queen of Glitter - Jean Bernard to answer this for me ... here's what she says:

I would apply a few thin coats of clear glossy varnish over the glitter. Next time mix the glitter 50/50 with the varnish :) You could find some Krylon super gloss sealer and try a test spot before you cover the entire area if this is a big project. Sometimes even the super glossy spray will cloud the glitter and it will loose its sparkle :)
hope this helps ya :)
Jean

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How to transfer your drawing to Wonder Under

Kristen asks:
I'd like to know how to transfer my drawing onto the back of the Wonder Under.

You should transfer your drawing to the paper side of the wonder under. You can do this by either using a light box or taping the drawing to a window and placing your WU on top of it and tracing.

If you have an inkjet printer you could cut a piece of WU slightly smaller than a piece of bond paper, then tape it to the paper and run it through your printer. As long as there is no heat it should work (laser printers use heat so that's a no-no).

Judi

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What glue to use to apply paper to masonite

Gloria asks:
I'm making a collage by gluing bits of paper I've cut from magazines to a piece of masonite. What type of glue should I be using for this? I've been using regular Elmer's white glue, but I'm afraid it won't last long term. Also, what should I use to seal the final project?

I would suggest using Modge Podge to attach the paper to the masonite. Actually any white glue would work but Modge Podge is thinner, easier to spread, and has been developed for that purpose. To seal it you could give it a topcoat of Modge Podge. I believe you can get either a gloss or matte version.

Good luck!
Judi

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How to make your own glitter glue

Is it possible to make your own glitter glue? I tried it with gel glue and glitter and it didn't work very well.

I think the gel glue probably was too thick to mix the glitter well. I have heard people having good luck mixing the glitter with Mod Podge or Elmers. Just be sure to stir well.

Best of luck,
Judi

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How to reconstitute glitter glue

Catherine asks:
I'd like to know how to salvage some glitter glue I have.. It is made by Elmers called 3D Shimmering Shapes and comes in a bunch of colors with all kinds of different glitter. Thanks so much!

Brian Rumschlag, Consumer Response Analyst for Elmer's, says that by simply mixing in a small amount of water you can reconstitute the 3D Shimmering Shapes glitter glue.

So, there you go! Another question answered!
Judi

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Can I remove excess glue after affixing a hot fix crystal?

Pam asks:
I'd like to know how to remove a small amount of glue left from a crystal (hot-fix) put on with a my pro-jeweler on a tulle wedding veil. I hesitate to put more on until I can remove the bit of glue. Thank You!

Usually we recommend trying to re-heat glue but tulle can be so delicate that heating it will either melt the tulle or distort it. So the regular methods just won't work. I did a bit of research and it doesn't look good. This is from the FAQ at the website of Creative Crystal, inventor and manufacturer of the BeJeweler hot-fix crystal applicator:

Why is glue running onto the fabric?
When placing the crystal on your item, place quickly and immediately lift the tip off the item. If you push down on the tip or hold the tip on the item too long the glue can be forced out and around the tip onto the fabric. Unfortunately the glue cannot be removed if this happens.

Here's a tip if you decide to add more ...
How do I apply crystals to net, silk and very sheer fabrics?
Place the fabric on a PTFE sheet or hard, non porous surface. Using the correct size tip, pick up the crystal as usual and as soon as the glue looks "wet" quickly place the crystal onto the fabric and lift up the tip.

If preferred, you can also simply hold the heated crystal slightly off the surface of the fabric and push the crystal onto the fabric by sliding a pin into the groove on the side of the tip and pushing the crystal out.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help,
Judi

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How to remove a t-shirt transfer put on wrong

Juanita says:
We had a Printwork T-shirt transfer, with a picture on it, then we ironed pellon to the back of the paper of the Printwork then we ironed it on the fabric. We should not have used the Pellon, how can we get the picture and pellon off the material????? We goofed.

Wow - this is interesting. First thing I'm wondering is what happened to the picture when you ironed the Pellon Wonder-Under on. Here's what I'm seeing - the transfer is supposed to be face down and you iron the paper and the picture transfers. But you ironed Wonder-Under to the paper. At that point I would imagine the picture would have started to transfer. So if I'm getting this picture right - you have the transfer and the paper and the wonder-under on the material. Eeeks. Here's what I would try - I don't know if you will be able to get everything off or not - go buy some cheap muslin (79 cents a yard)- then place your mistake face down on the muslin and iron it. See if the picture transfers when cool. You might then only have the paper and the wonder-under to deal with. Move it over to a clean piece of muslin and iron again. Don't let it cool and try to get the paper to lift off. If that works move it to a clean piece again and heat. Repeat as necessary - you are trying to get the muslin to soak up the glue on the wonder-under. I honestly don't know if this will work at all. Please let me know what happens.

Best of luck,
Judi

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What glue to use to apply an applique to satin

Candy asks:
What type of glue is best for applying appliqué onto a satin clutch purse?

You run the risk of staining satin with any type of glue so if you use a glue you are going to have to be very careful not to let any seep out from under the edges of the appliqué. That said you can try Gripp glue.

You didn't say if this was a beaded appliqué or a lace appliqué but if you can your absolute best way to attach this is to hand sew it to the purse. Use a thin strong matching thread and take tiny stitches. It shouldn't take that long and then there is no chance of staining the satin.

Best of luck,
Judi

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How to remove hot glue from clothing

Patty asks:
How do I remove hot glue from a piece of vintage clothing?

The first thing I would do is put the piece of clothing in the freezer. I have found, from living in Alaska, that hot glue pops off of items when it freezes. So if there is a lump of glue that might remove it. If there seems to be glue in the fibers try to heat it to remove it. Take a piece of clean cotton and place the glue spot face down on it. Press a hot iron on the area (make sure the clothing is safe to iron at a high heat), pressing for 10-20 seconds. Peel it away from the cotton. Move the cotton over to a clean spot. Repeat until the glue has been absorbed into the cotton.

Best of luck,
Judi

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What is the most permanent fusing method?

Ladybug says:
I found you doing a web search for how to permanently fuse fabric to fabric. What is the most permanent method? I'd like to attach a small (half inch square) piece of fabric to a cotton tee.

I would have to say the most permanent method would be to combine fusing with sewing. I would fuse the piece to the tee and then outline stitch it down.

Judi

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What glue to use for glitter and crystals or rhinestones on leather

British asks:
I'd like to know how to secure glitter on fabric. AND what’s the best type of glue to use in order to glue crystals/rhinestones onto leather?

Uh - I use Ultimate Glue for EVERYTHING! But Aleene's jewelry glue (a dot on the end of a toothpick applied to the leather) will do the trick, too. I've actually used both glues for applying crystals or small beads to various fabrics. Ultimate is a bit thicker (not ALWAYS a good thing for small crystals) but is great as long as you don't dump out a huge bit of it.

Hope this helps,
Kai

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How to remove an iron-on applique

Corinne asks:
I'd like to know how how to remove an applique. I read the post about removing a wonder-under applique and the success of that procedure but I think this applique might have been an iron-on. Would the procedure work for an iron-on applique? I am so glad 'A Treasure Nest' gave me your site and thank you so much.

I would go ahead and try it. The iron-on appliques are an adhesive too just like Wonder Under. Try lifting it at one corner and if that is successful then continue. I seem to remember when I used to have iron-ons on my jeans that they would heat up and lift when I ironed them. Although I have no idea why I would iron my jeans, LOL.

Let us know if it works!
Judi

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Pellon Wonder Under Instructions plus Tips and Tricks

Emma asks:
Can you find me the instructions for Wonder Under. When I search all I get are companies that sell it, I'm getting really frustrated. Thanks.

I can understand that! If you are looking for something like this it is best to search on the company name rather than the product name. But to answer your question here are the instructions for Wonder Under from the Pellon website:

805, 807, 725 Wonder-Under®
The paperbacked adhesive web that turns any fabric into a fusible fabric.

Fuses fabric to fabric or to a porous surface such as wood or cardboard. For denim, canvas or other heavy fabrics, use

Heavy Duty Wonder Under, when extra holding power is needed. ALWAYS PRE-TEST.

Has no grain - can be cut and applied in any direction.

Finished item can be washed or dry-cleaned; according to the fabric's care requirements.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS

1. PRESS & CUT
* Place rough side of Wonder-Under against wrong side of fabric. Press for 5-8 seconds with hot, dry iron. Let cool, draw desired shape onto paper backing, then cut
* Alternative method: Trace shape onto paper backing, cut to size, then press, rough side down, onto fabric. (Note: To avoid backward letters and numbers, draw on rough side of Wonder-Under with ballpoint pen. For dark fabrics, redraw shape on paper side.)
2. Step 2: PEEL & FUSE
* Gently peel off paper backing. Position fusible fabric, web side down, on the project. Cover with DAMP press cloth.
* With iron at wool setting, press FIRMLY for 10-15 seconds. (Heavier fabrics = more time.) Repeat, lifting and overlapping iron until all fabric is fused.
* Remove press cloth and iron fabric to eliminate excess moisture.
* Tip: Use your damp press cloth as a temperature and timing guide. After 10 seconds, press cloth should be dry. If not, raise iron temperature or hold iron in place a few seconds longer.
* Tips: With “fat/thin" or "heavy/light" fabric combinations, fuse from thinner or lighter side. If necessary, "baste" first by ironing on the right side.

Care Instructions:

* Washable, dry cleanable
* Machine wash Warm, Delicate cycle.
* Do not use fabric softner.
* Tumble dry Low.

Special Techniques:

* For hems: Cut and press strips ofWonder-Under to hem allowance. Peel off paper, turn up hem and fuse.
* For layered appliques: Press Wonder-Under onto fabric and cut out base shape. Use Wonder-Under to fuse details to applique, then peel paper backing off base and fuse completed applique to project. If desired, machine stitch around edges of applique.
o Create reversible fabrics or sturdier projects by fusing two layers of fabric together with Wonder-Under.
o Cover wood or cardboard items, such as room dividers, valances and boxes, with fabric using Wonder-Under.

* For best results, store unused Wonder-Under by rolling it onto a tube (Instead of folding).
* Overtime, if Wonder-Under separates from the paper, it can still be used. Simply place the web on the surface to be fused, cover with the Wonder-Under release paper, and press with a hot, dry iron. Fabric, web and paper will stick together. Proceed with directions for cutting, peeling and fusing.

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How to mount photos to a wall

Divina asks:
What can I use to adhere paper photos to a wall?

Depends if you want it to be permanent or temporary. It also depends on whether your wall is smooth or textured. If you have textured walls a paper photo will look bumpy and if your texturing material has 'points' it could tear the paper. To avoid that you would have to mount them to a backing of some sort and then they would stand out from the wall a little bit, sort of like a painting. If your walls are smooth you can adhere them directly to the wall.

If you want to replace the photos after a while you can use doublesided tape on a smooth wall fairly successfully. If you want them to be permanent you can use any of the decoupage glues on the market. You might also want to seal the photos before you mount them. There are a number of ways to do this.

Hope this helps,
Judi

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Can I remove an applique from tulle?

Rita says:
I'd like to know how to remove a heat transferred applique from a wedding gown. I'm not sure of the fabric but it is very similar to tulle in that it is a fine mesh material. The applique appears to have been applied by using heat and the beading is stitched on to it.

I don't think you're going to be able to get this off easily. It sounds rather fragile. You can't use much heat on the mesh since it will more than likely melt. So you can't reheat it to get the glue off. If you try to use a chemical product you will probably discolor the fabric. You could try taking it to a dry cleaner and seeing what they suggest. Sometimes you just can't get these off without ruining the material.

Next best thing would be to replace the entire section with new mesh/tulle.

Best of luck,
Judi

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How to get glitter glue off cashmere

Kelly says:
Hi! I have a cashmere sweater I purchased (supposedly a vintage) on ebay and when I received it, the design has been done with a kind of glue/paint with glitter in it that was popular to use back in the 80's. Can this be removed with heat, a chemical, a product of some kind? It won't just pick off. I have tried!

Oh my gosh. This one is nearly too scary to answer - I don't want to mess up your vintage cashmere sweater! I don't think a chemical would be kind to cashmere. I thought maybe you could heat the glue with an iron or a heat gun and blot the glue off but I'd be afraid I'd burn holes in the sweater.

Judy thinks you could try this and it would be fairly gentle ... here's what she advises Kelly ..

I have no idea if this will work on factory applied set-in paint and I especially don't know what it will do to cashmere, but here is something non-destructive on other materials that you might try:

You can try using Purell or another clear waterless hand cleaner. Lay the sweater out flat. Apply Purell liberally to the area you are trying to remove. Let it sit for a minute and carefully blot/wipe with a clean, dry cloth. If it appears to be working, repeat until glitter/paint disappears. Then wash the sweater following the manufacturer's instructions.

I know that this method works to remove acrylic paint from fabric (shirts, jeans, etc) and on carpets as I have personally used it. On those materials, the last step is sometimes to use a toothbrush with the Purell to get the last of the paint out. That said, I have no idea what it would do on a sweater (I wouldn't use a toothbrush, for instance), let alone on cashmere. I also do not know what process is used to set the paint and glitter in a factory manufacturing setting. It may be something that makes the paint/glitter much more permanent. My application is usually paint that has gotten on my clothes while I am working or, most recently, a bottle of paint that my dog discovered and crushed before I realized she had it--I defy you to find the stain(s) on the carpet.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Hope this helps. Let us know what you end up doing.
Judy Leasure, TDA

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How to glue fabric to glass

PJ asks:
I'd like to know what kind of glue to use for gluing fabric to the underside of a clear glass plate?

We have a bit of a difference of opinion on this one. Kai thinks you should use a gel medium and I think you should use a spray adhesive. I think that you could easily pull the fabric out of shape if it gets too wet with the gel medium and it could also distort when you smooth it to remove wrinkles. A spray adhesive is more of a dry glue so you won't have those problems. To use the spray adhesive you would spray onto the fabric not the plate. The glue should dry clear.

Hope this helps,
Judi

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What type of temporary adhesive can you use on wood?

Jen S. says:
I will be doing a presentation where I will encourage my participants to experiment decorating a maple basket with maple trim strips and lightweight metal findings. I am looking for a temporary adhesive that I can apply to the back of the trims so that participants can stick them to the basket and see what it looks like, but then remove them so another participant may have a turn. It must not stain or otherwise mar the wooden basket. Any suggestions?


Sounds interesting! I think that J.T. Trading's 404 Spray and Fix is the way to go. I use their 505 and I really like it, but that's for fabric, the 404 would be used for wood. I would get a can and test it out on scrap wood to see if it works as advertised. It should. Here's what their website says about their product.

Q: On what other surfaces can I use 404?
404 can make a repositionable bond between most smooth surfaces....404 will hold on ceramic, wood, painted walls, metal, leather, stone and glass.

Q: How much time do I have to reposition?
Unlimited, 404 remains repositionable. Take as much time as you need.

Q: How long will the bond last?
The bond should last indefinitely or until surfaces become dusty.

Q: Does adhesive transfer from the sprayed surface onto the other surface
A: No, as with our other adhesives, 404 stays on the surface that you sprayed.

Q: Is 404 acid free?
A: Yes, 404 is archival quality. 404 will not harm or discolor fabrics, photos, paper or any other surface.

The only problem I see here is that the adhesive won't come off the pieces of trim. You can try to remove it with rubbing alcohol but that's really meant for non-porous surfaces.

Best of luck!
Judi

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