DIY: Fabrite Laminate

Dining room chairs are perfect "targets" for laminated fabric.

If you’ve ever shopped for laminated fabric, then you know the selection is quite limited. If the fabric you want — the fabric that would match your décor perfectly — is plain cotton or polyester, snatch it up anyway and laminate it yourself, by one of two means. Laminated fabric — often found in restaurants, coffee shops and bars, outdoors and indoors — is perfect for high-traffic areas and even low-traffic areas where people are prone to spill. With laminated fabric, let them spill away; you can wipe up the mess with a wet sponge, and your fabric will remain unscathed and as pretty as the day you spotted it in the store.

Things You'll Need

• Iron-on fabric adhesive
• Scissors
• No Fray Spray
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Old, thin fabric
• Spray fixative
• Disposable foam brush
• Pencil
• Mod Podge
• Brayer

Instructions

Iron-on Laminate

1. Place your fabric on a hard surface and trim the edges. If the edges fray easily, spray them with No Fray Spray so that the vinyl doesn’t catch and secure them, potentially marring your piece.

2. Iron the fabric so that it lies perfectly flat.

3. Lay a piece of the iron-on fabric adhesive over the fabric. Smooth the vinyl with your hands.

4. Pin the vinyl to the fabric.

5. Cut around the vinyl, using the fabric as a guide.

6. Peel off the backing and set the vinyl, face down, onto the fabric so that the backing paper shows.

7. 

   Plain bar stools can take on new life after they are covered with laminated fabric.

   Iron the vinyl onto the fabric. Your iron should be set to medium-high heat, but check the package instructions to be certain.

Mod Podge Laminate

1. Lay an old but thin piece of work fabric onto a hard surface. This piece will “catch” some of the glue that will invariably cross the borders of your fabric.

2. Lay the fabric you are laminating on top of the old piece of fabric and cover it evenly with a layer of Mod Podge. Let the glue dry and apply several more coats. Evaluate your work after three coats; additional coats after this point will weigh down the fabric considerably, which may affect the outcome of your project.

3. If you are securing the fabric to wood, a wall or a piece of furniture, mount it in place temporarily with a spray fixative. Mark the placement with a pencil.

4. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the back side of the fabric and then affix it to the wood or piece of furniture. Roll the fabric perfectly flat with a brayer to eliminate any glue bubbles from forming underneath the fabric.

5. 

   Laminated fabric is a snap to clean with soapy water.

   Apply several more coats of Mod Podge over the fabric and the wood or furniture to seal it. The glue will look milky, but it will dry clear. You may apply more coats of Mod Podge over fabric secured to wood or furniture than fabric only. In fact, with every coat, you will ultimately fill the gap between the object and the fabric to create a smooth, uniform surface.

Tips & Warnings

• The first method is more conducive to fabric that hasn’t yet been stitched or otherwise affixed to the final product. Consider this method for projects that are still “under construction,” such as placemats, runners, bibs, cosmetic bags and book covers. The second method secures the fabric to the piece, rendering it complete. It is ideal for wood projects and furniture.

• The first method renders fabric that is easier to sew on than commercial laminated fabric, mostly because it is not as thick and cumbersome to work with.

References

• Therm O Web: Iron-on Vinyl
• Plaid: Mod Podge

Resources

• AllStitch.com: No Fray Spray
• Fabric.com: The Fabric Maverick Says ... Let Me Give You Some Tips for Working with Oil Cloth and Cotton Laminates