Felt glued to felt?

Degeneratemoo

Hi, I've posted this in the wedding forum but it's probably better here.

We're having a mediaeval style wedding and I want to make some mediaeval banners/flags to hang from the ceiling of the venue to give the room a nice feel. It's a really nice, high ceiling with supports perfect to hang the banners.

I'm planning to make the banners out of felt and the original idea was to have any design on the front cut out of smaller pieces of felt and attach it to the main backing using some Steam-a-seam or equivalent (the american version is Wonder Under) which when ironed, seals the two pieces together.

Problem is, to make the most of these banners and given the room size they need to be pretty big (we're talking 30 inches across, 49 inches down) and this Steam-a-seam stuff isn't cheap.

Any ideas how else I could attach the two bits of felt together? Would PVA glue do it, or is there something else that would do the job cheaply?

laurel7172

I've made flags by sticking felt to felt with PVA, but nothing as big as that. I don't see why it wouldn't work, though-the fabric will be heavier, but it will be attached to a greater surface area. It doesn't last forever, though-I just came across my son's D Day 2005 emergency-why-didn't-you-tell-me-you-needed-a-union-flag-BEFORE-9pm-on-a-Sunday flag and it's falling apart. Why don't you just try one? If you aren't happy, you can peel it off carefully and stick it down with something else.

ChocClare

You can buy stuff called Supermend - it comes in a plastic tub a bit like the ones you get hundreds and thousands in. Basically, it's the same glue you have on bondaweb, but with no backing. You sprinkle it onto your material, put your other bit of material over the top and iron to bond.

I use it in embroidery but it's one of the few things I didn't have to buy for an embroidery class because I already had a tub of it from days spent patching my son's trousers way back when!

It's not cheap but it goes a lot further than bondaweb. They might have it on ebay or their website is here.

Failing that, copydex is the glue of choice with felt, I think. Apply sparingly to both sides, allow to dry slightly and then press together AND LEAVE!!!!

I have had to glue felt with my Rainbows using PVA and it does work AS LONG AS YOU LEAVE IT FOR AGES. I never get them to glue felt, they haven't got the patience... :rotfl:

bluebag

If it's going to be up high and not open to close insection you could try staples?
Congratulations on the wedding by the way.

Degeneratemoo

Thanks for the suggestion but it won't be high enough to get away with staples. I've just found a site that sells the Steam-a-Seam for £3.30 a metre (12" wide) so that could possibly make it cost effective.

picklepick

Have you tried searching for Wonderweb aswell? ts another brand name but still the same thing and i think cheaper

Degeneratemoo

Wonder web is only really for hems of trousers etc, I've only ever seen it come in 1" wide strips. Thanks though.

thisuseridistakenagain

you could ust use the wonder web along the side of the bits you are sticking on.
I do felt crafts and always use UHU glue from poundland if my sewing machine is broke. PVA will probably get the job done but will take ages to dry. Just some no nails clear from poundland would do it too, i use that for covering larger items.
It doesnt discolour or anything like that.

picklepick

Sorry but i dont understand why the whole pieces need to be glued down and not just around the edges? surely that would be cheaper than using a large piece of steam a seam

Olliebeak

Would you consider sewing on a machine with a fairly long stitch and matching thread? Or even handstitching with neat running stitches?