Coating fabric yourself – it's super easy (with TEST)

Coating fabric yourself - it really is quite simple. I'll show you what you need, how it works, and what you need to keep in mind. I have tried various products – and I am quite amazed :)!

The most important things at a glance

• I have tested various products for coating fabric, the results are truly amazing
• Because coated fabrics are often very expensive, coating fabric yourself can be an affordable alternative
• Unfortunately, most beautiful fabrics are not available in a coated version, so it is closer to coating your favorite fabric yourself
• Coating fabric yourself is no problem at all - even beginners can do it

Especially for sewing projects that come into contact with water or dirt during use (cosmetic bags, handbags or tablecloths), it is worth considering whether the fabric^* should not be coated beforehand.

Unfortunately, most beautiful fabrics are not available in a coated version. So it is closer to coating your favorite fabric yourself. And because coated fabrics are often very expensive, coating fabric yourself can also be an affordable alternative!

How great would it be if you could also use your self-made shoulder bag or your cool backpack in wind and weather? And sew it yourself from self-coated fabrics in all the colors of the rainbow?

I thought this idea was really great!

And got straight to work.

I have tested various products - and even tried coating fabric with book wrapping, sticky tape, and plastic wrap! :)

However, I did not expect these results.

By the way: Be sure to also read my guide on how to easily make beeswax fabric yourself!

Coating fabric yourself - what are the benefits?

By coating, the fabric is:

• waterproof/wipeable
• dirt-repellent
• still easy to sew
• better protected from wear and tear
• overall more durable

I have tested several options for you.

This hopefully saves you from buying the wrong product for your sewing project! :)

Which products are suitable for coating fabric?

I have tested:

• Lamifix^*
• Nikwax waterproofing spray^*
• Mod Podge Fabric^*
• Fabric coating with sticky tape, book wrapping, and plastic wrap (CLICK HERE for the test report)
• Odicoat Gel^*  (read all about this amazing discovery when I coated fabric with Odicoat!!)

Coating fabric with Lamifix^*

First, I tackled the classic. Lamifix by Freudenberg (the company that also makes the interfacing) is available in matte and glossy. I chose the matte version.

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You can order Lamifix online - it is 45 cm wide and costs around 6.00 euros per linear meter:

No description is included, just the ordered piece of matte Lamifix. Okay.

On the film itself, I find the print: "iron on this side" - multilingual. Since that doesn't help me, I search high and low on the internet for instructions.

Inga gives the hint that there are application notes for the individual products on the Freudenberg website:

Here is the one for matte Lamifix.  Thank you so much, Inga! :)

Instructions: Lamifix

The film should be ironed onto the right side of the fabric.

My first attempt ends like this:

What happened?

Well, first I didn't put a cloth between the film and the iron. Why would I? It didn't say anywhere.

That was the first thing.

And then I ironed it on setting 3. Too hot.

Sponge over it. Next attempt - this time on setting 2 (wool/silk). The darker area is where the iron was run over.

Then I ironed the rest of the film onto the fabric. It smells like plastic.

This is what the result looks like.

Unevenly laminated and then rolled up. A disaster.

3rd attempt after researching on the internet: cloth between the film and the iron, ironed without steam on setting 2, patiently ironing further for 8 seconds each time.

With the result that the film was still only sitting on top and had not fused with the fabric.

4th attempt: Instead of setting 2, we tried setting 3. A bit better.

Even though the result is far from even.

And it always smells unpleasantly of plastic.

Although the film is still not really evenly bonded with the fabric, it doesn't curl up as much.

I let the fabric cool thoroughly while lying flat and hope for the best.

How waterproof is fabric coated with Lamifix?

The water test: Even after several minutes, the fabric coated with Lamifix is absolutely waterproof.

My conclusion

Despite the absolute water resistance: My fabrics are simply too precious for experiments with Lamifix.

Negatively, the fabrics become inflexible and their rich colors turn matte. It could be different with the glossy version.

In addition, fabrics laminated with Lamifix are not washable and not suitable for turning inside out, so nothing for bags that are meant to be turned inside out. If you try it anyway, the film peels off the fabric again and becomes unsightly.

So: The fabric coated with Lamifix is absolutely waterproof. However, it has really become inflexible.

Sewing test: Can be sewn without problems.

Coating fabric with Nikwax waterproofing spray^*

For my next attempt, I ordered Nikwax.

It promises to make fabrics water-repellent while still keeping them breathable.  The description in English is printed on the back of the bottle.

I ordered the Nikwax^* from Amazon for just under 15 euros. It comes in a 500 ml bottle.

What I particularly like about the idea of the waterproofing spray is that the fabric does not necessarily need to be pre-treated.

It is no problem to spray finished bags and make them water-repellent. The application can be repeated.

The finished sewing project is washable, but must be sprayed again after drying.

Now for the practical test.

Instructions: Nikwax waterproofing spray^*

1. Protect the work surface with film or similar
2. Lay out the clean, dry fabric flat
3. From a distance of 15 cm, spray the outside of the fabric (i.e. the right side) evenly
4. Wait two minutes and then dab off the excess liquid with a kitchen towel
5. Check again that no part of the fabric has remained dry
6. Dry in the air or in the dryer
7. Finished

The application is really incredibly simple.

Spray. During this, it is noticeable that the liquid has hardly any odor of its own. Pleasant.

Dab off the excess liquid after two minutes.

Let dry.

Result:

After drying, the fabric is flexible and feels slightly waxy. The fabric  is a shade darker than before treatment with the spray.

Sewing test

When sewing, the fabric is flexible and no residue remains on the needle.

This waterproof is the fabric with Nikwax

Immediately after wetting, the first water spots appear in the fabric.

I wait three minutes and remove the water: The fabric has become really wet.

Coating fabric yourself with Mod Podge^*

With Mod Podge, I notice the poppy appearance.

Here too: application instructions in English. But no drama, everything seems quite easy at first.

Mod Podge is available in different versions. The consistency of the white water-based gel reminds me of wood glue and has a very weak, also glue-like smell.

Mod Podge comes in a plastic cup with 236 ml of contents. Cost: Around 12 euros at Amazon^*.

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Mod Podge can not only be used to coat fabric.

It is also suitable, for example, to prevent fabric edges from fraying. So you can use it as a replacement for interfacing. Practical if you like patchwork.

The gel is applied with a sponge or brush to the right side of the fabric. Both must be washed out directly under running water afterwards.

It is great that the fabric does not necessarily need to be treated BEFORE sewing.

Mod Podge can also be easily applied to finished bags.

Instructions: Coating fabric with Mod Podge^*

1. Apply Mod Podge evenly to the fabric in a thin layer using a brush or sponge - the more even the application, the more professional the result will look
2. Let dry flat for two hours
3. Done

It couldn't be easier, in my opinion.

And try it out:

When applying it, the fabric darkens - as if you were wetting it.

I apply the glue evenly to the fabric:

Then I lay it flat on a tea towel and let it dry.

In the picture you see the fabric sample treated with Nikwax on the left, and the one with Mod Podge on the right.

After drying, the fabric looks like this: It has a slight shine and is flexible. The brushstrokes are still slightly visible.

The fabric is slightly darker than before treatment. However, the vibrancy of the color has not suffered.

How waterproof is fabric coated with Mod Podge?

I'm doing the water test again.

Immediately after contact with water, small spots appear on some areas of the fabric. They intensify with prolonged contact with water.

It remains to be tested whether a second coat (possibly even on the back of the fabric!) will protect the fabric better against moisture.

My overall result

In itself, coating fabric yourself is no problem at all - even beginners can do it.

However, none of the tested products completely convinced me.

So far, I still liked Mod Podge^* the best. In my opinion, it's worth continuing to experiment here. A second coat (possibly also on the back of the fabric) could also do a lot.

What's great is that although the fabric coated with Mod Podge is not waterproof, it is certainly wipeable.

I can also imagine that Mod Podge is well suited for keeping glitter in place where it has been applied.

Nikwax^* will also be tested further. Here I like the simple handling and the possibility to spray on again and again.

Unfortunately, the Lamifix^* was a complete failure. I had expected much more from it!

In this post, I share my experiences with Odicoat fabric coating.

I have also coated fabric with book film, Tesa film, and plastic wrap.

You can find out how it works and what it achieves in this blog post.

By the way, you should also take a look at how to make wax cloth yourself with beeswax very simply!

Happy simple sewing,

your Sabine

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