How to Glue Felt to Wood for Your Next DIY Project

Gluing felt to wood can sometimes be a messy and frustrating task. It never seems to adhere like you want it to or you wind up with glue everywhere but in the right places. These instructions on how to glue felt to wood will help.

I’ve broken down the step-by-step process you need to follow to ensure you get a good hold and attractive looking wood piece by gluing felt to it.

​How to Glue Felt to Wood

​Gluing felt to wood is a necessary part of a lot of home DIY crafts, especially those you might do with young children. Doing it properly will make the project or craft last ​quite a bit longer.

Get Your Supplies Ready

First, you need to make sure you have all the right supplies to glue your felt to your wood project. I’ve detailed more specifics on the type of felt and glue to use below.

• Glue
• ​Felt
• ​Roller
• ​Foam brushes or paint brush
• ​Scissors or razor knife
• ​Template pieces

This list of supplies is necessary to make sure your felt lays flat, fits well, and adheres as it should to your wood surface. It will help you understand how to glue felt to wood and make sure it has a strong hold that lasts.

Select the Right Felt

​Part of the problem when gluing felt to​ unfinished wood is the type of felt that you use. Because felt stretches to some degree, you want to make sure that you select a high-quality felt.

Low-grade felt can tear and stretch beyond repair when cutting it or gluing it on your wood surface. A high-quality felt will be more durable and allow for some give in handling. You’ll be able to cut it easier and adhere it to your wood project without fear of damage occurring.

Clean the Felt

​I’m not talking about a detailed clean here. But, you don’t want to try and glue felt that has dirt or anything else stuck to it. So, give it a quick once over and ensure it isn’t dirty.

​One great way to get stains and dirt out of felt is by using a handheld steamer. Use the steamer lightly, holding it a ways back from the felt, and operating on the lowest power setting.

​Choosing the Right Glue

​You have a few options when it comes to selecting the type of glue to use. This is often dependent on the type of wood surface you are applying the felt to. Large pieces of wood work well with a spray glue as you will be able to get even coverage of the surface.

​You will have to tape off the areas that the felt will not be applied to when spraying the glue to prevent it from getting tacky.

Elmer’s Glue is another good option when you are working with a small wood project that requires several pieces of felt for full coverage. The Elmer’s Glue sticks well and will allow you to get into those tiny crevices easier.

​You’ll have a good adherence with this type of glue and not have to worry about peeling of the felt.

I do recommend wet cement as the best option for gluing felt to wood. It sticks well and is easy to work with. You can use wet cement on virtually any size wood project that you have as it provides good coverage when applied.

Cut Your Template

​Before you begin the gluing process of your felt to your wood surface, you need to cut your felt to the appropriate size of the wood surface to be covered. Use a template to create the exact dimensions of your wood piece.

You can use cardboard for all the template pieces you need. This will help you create the perfect guide for ​​a lot of wood projects, along with different DIY crafts you might be making for a signifigant other.

Once you have created the template, you need to cut your felt to the appropriate size. Use your template to guide you and cut the felt to the exact measurements needed. A high quality jigsaw will work just fine.

By the same token, Or, you can make a really accurate cut with a scroll saw.

When completed, you should have a felt piece that fits exactly into the predetermined wood surface to be covered.

Apply the Glue

​Before you begin applying the glue to the felt piece, make sure it fits the surface of the wood perfectly. It should cover the wood entirely and not have any overhanging felt. When you are certain that the felt fits well, you can begin to apply the glue.

Use your foam brush or a paint brush. I like the foam brushes because they are cheap and easy to work with. If you prefer a paint brush, you will need to clean all the glue off the brush when completed using paint thinner or another solvent.

Apply the glue to both the felt and the surface of the wood using your brush. A light layer will do and provide plenty of hold. Make sure to apply the glue to the edges. If you are using spray glue, you can easily spray the wood surface and felt to create a strong hold to the wood.

Place the Felt

​Carefully place the felt on the wood surface that you just covered with glue. Make sure to line it up properly and pat it in place. It works well if you use a roller to smooth the felt out and stretch it a bit to cover the wood properly.

This will ensure good adherence to the wood and prevent any bubbles or wrinkles from forming.

Make sure to secure the felt thoroughly in any corners or around any obstacles securely. For smaller projects with your kids, you can use a scraper to get into those tight areas easier.

Trim the Felt Edges

​Once you have your felt securely attached to ​your creative wood project, examine it for any jagged or uneven edges. You can trim these edges with your scissors or razor knife to create a perfect fit.

If you cut your felt piece accurately at first, you will not have to contend with trimming the edges or adjusting the fit.

Let your newly felted project dry thoroughly before you decide to use it. This will prevent any shifting of the felt and ensure you have a good hold that will last.

​Conclusion

​Now that you know how to glue felt to wood, you can add this attractive detail to any wood piece you are working on. The felt provides a durable surface and adds more detail to your wood project.

By using the right materials and tools, you can easily glue felt to wood that will last as long as you own your wood project without worry about wear or damage over time.