What can you use to harden fabric?

Question

I'd like to make a piece of fabric stiff so that it is hard to the touch, but I don't want to use anything that would contribute color to the fabric. Is there a crafting liquid that would do this? Can I use clear glue?

Answer 1

If you combine 1 part Elmer's wood glue to 2 parts water, then use a paintbrush to coat the inside of the fabric, the fabric will be rigid like thick poster board.

Answer 2

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RE:
What can you use to harden fabric?
I'd like to make a piece of fabric stiff so that it is hard to the touch, but I don't want to use anything that would contribute color to the fabric. Is there a crafting liquid that would do this? Can I use clear glue?

Answer 3

You can buy special products like Stiffy, etc. at fabric stores for stiffening fabric, or you can make the same basic stuff yourself with "white glue" thinned with water (to make it brushable, and self-leveling).
You can use any type of "white glue," including yellow wood glue, but your easiest and cheapest would be plain old Elmer's GlueAll (don't get a "washable" "school" glue... it needs to be a permanent glue).
These will look milky when applied, but will dry clear... and you can use more than one layer if you let each dry thoroughly first. Depending on the shape you want, you can saturate the cloth, then wring it out and drape or shape it before drying, or you can brush it on, one or both sides (esp. if it's a second coat).
(Those glue products will generally be stronger and/or stiffer than starches or sugar-water solutions, which will also work though).

You could also use other clear acrylics (water-based) liquids too like finishes for wood (polyurethane, etc.), clear acrylic fingernail polish, and acrylic "mediums" for acrylic paint, as well as other things like 2-part epoxy resins, etc., (which will all be really hard, but be more crackable if stressed?) and even things that need to be heated to cure like liquid polymer clay or clear embossing powder. These are clear from the start, but aren't sold as glues... they're just adhesive in addition to whatever they're primary purpose is.

OTOH, I think that most materials "sold as glues" that are clear when you buy them (as opposed to drying clear) are solvent-based, so may make fabrics bleed, be hard to apply smoothly, and not particularly good for lungs, etc.


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 4

In theater, we use "size"... a mix of Elmers White-glue and hot water (you can even mix in the latex paint of your choice)... simply brush on or soak and drape.

If you do this on a framed piece of muslin, you have a "flat" that is extremely firm to the touch... almost like cardboard.

I've also soaked a length of this fabric in that mixture and then hung it and shaped it... for drapes or to make a statue from a manikin.

If you're using a fabric OTHER than Muslin... TEST any mixture you use on a SCRAP to check color effects !!

Answer 5

starch is the best answer, i press my uniforms to hold an edge for at least two days worth of wear, just use heavy starch, spray it on thick let it dry press it with an iron, spray it again press it while it is damp then spray once more and let dry it should be as stiff as a board, but use the good starch otherwise you'll get white streaks from the starch.

Answer 6

You can use Elmers glue, or heavy spray starch. If you use Elmers, just brush it on with a paintbrush (but get one of those cheap foam ones at a craft store). I'd probably use the Elmers....

Answer 7

You could try starch, granted you will need to starch it a lot, but I have had friends who have starched their shirts so much that the fabric became fairly stiff.

Answer 8

There is a product called stiff stuff it works really well. It's sold at most caft stores.

Answer 9

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Acrylic paint for fabric.

Answer 10

try starch