We all know and love VELCRO® Brand hooks and loops for their versatility. The uses are almost limitless, as long as you pay attention to the way it works and what it likes to do. In this case, if you’re wondering will VELCRO® Brand hooks stick to felt, the answer is an absolute yes — as long as you’re using the right kind of felt, and the right kind of hooks.
Here’s what we mean.
Texture is Key to Your Success
Also known as hook and loop fasteners, VELCRO® Brand fasteners are usually a two sided proposition, with one side containing the hooks and the other side containing the loops for the hooks to hold on to. In fact, that’s how hook and loop fasteners were discovered. One day, a Swiss engineer named Georges de Mestral,who invented VELCRO® Brand fasteners, was walking in the woods with his dog. Along the way, he noticed some burrs clinging to his pants and the dog’s fur.
This made him wonder why the burrs held on so well. Looking at them under a microscope, he observed the way hooks on the burrs held on to the loops in the fabric of his pants. After experimenting with his discovery for while, de Mestral made the trip to the patent office that got him credited as the “father” of VELCRO® Brand hook and loop fasteners.
He realized the texture of the fabric is what made the loops hold on so well. This is why, if you’re wondering will VELCRO® Brand hooks stick to felt, the answer is yes, depending on the texture of the felt.
Getting Felt to Stick to VELCRO® Brand
It’s important to choose felt with a looser weave if you want the hooks to hold tightly. It’s also important to note certain types of VELCRO® Brand hooks work better than others with felt. To get the best bond, you’ll want to use a thinner grade of felt with heavy-duty hooks. It’s also better to use natural felt rather than acrylic. Natural felt has more texture for the hooks to grip. One more thing, before applying the hooks, you’ll want to make sure the surface of the felt is clean so the hooks can hold on tightly.
Removal and Reapplication to Felt
One of the greatest things about the VELCRO® Brand fastening system is it can be taken apart and put back together repeatedly—up to a point. With felt, every time you pull it apart from the hooks, the fabric will show a bit of wear. It will then begin to get fuzzy after a while, which will make it harder for the hooks to get a grip. So, when you’re thinking of using VELCRO® Brand hooks with felt, give some thought to how often you’ll want to separate the hooks from the felt.
In some cases you might want to use sew-on VELCRO® Brand patches instead of connecting the hooks directly to the felt. This will let you attach the hooks to the loops, which are designed to release the hooks and accept them over and over again. This will be more durable over time. You can also use iron-on VELCRO® Brand hook and loop fasteners if you want to avoid having seams showing where the VELCRO® Brand patches are sewn into place.
In Summary
When it comes to the question of whether VELCRO® Brand hooks will stick to felt, or does felt stick to VELCRO® Brand hooks, they can definitely be your friend when you’re considering crafting and/or sewing with felt. In fact, you can use it in as many different ways as your imagination will allow, as long as you keep a few things in mind.
You’ll need to use a thinner grade of felt, so the hooks can get a good grip if you want to attach them directly to the felt. You can go with self-adhesive VELCRO® Brand hooks alone If you want it to be a temporary thing. Use sew-on or iron-on VELCRO® Brand hooks and loops for a more permanent solution, and you’ll be good to go.
