As you probably know quite well, jeans are often subjected to daily wear and tear, and as such holes and tears can appear in the fabric.
This is very common, and luckily there is a very simple solution available. Using fabric glue is the perfect way to patch up your damaged jeans and get back to wearing them day in, day out.
However, it’s important to choose the right glue for the job, since different glues have different properties. So I’ve compiled this complete guide to the best glues for patching jeans so you can figure out the right glue for your needs.
You may be wondering why glue is such a good option for patching jeans in the first place, especially when sewing is the preferred method of many, so allow me to explain.
Why should you use fabric glue for patching jeans? For a start, fabric glue is versatile—you can opt for either permanent or nonpermanent fabric glue. This allows you to make a fix according to the situation. For example, if you need a long-term fix to your jeans, then permanent fabric glue is the way to go.
However, you might just want a short-term fix, or maybe you want to modify the jeans for an occasion like Halloween or another holiday where you dress up. In this case, nonpermanent glue is best.
This is one way in which fabric glue trumps sewing since you can patch up the jeans to best suit your circumstances. Another reason why fabric glue is a great choice for patching up jeans is that it is—more often than not—safe to be washed by machine.
So if you were thinking that using fabric glue would only last until you threw the jeans in the washing machine, you’re mistaken. The glue is made to last and won’t come off.
Lastly, fabric glue is better than sewing in that if you choose it to glue a patch onto your jeans, you’re not going to have to worry about fraying around the edges.
I hope this has helped convince you why you should give fabric glue a chance next time you rip your jeans. If you think it sounds good, then the next thing you’re going to need to do is to invest in a quality product to make sure you have a positive experience with it.
The Best Fabric Glue For Patching Jeans
I’d like to outline my top 5 best fabric types of glue so that you can make an informed decision when you’re ready to make a purchase.
What To Look For In Fabric Glue
Yet before we dive into the best fabric glue for patching jeans, it’s important that we assess the main considerations you need to know for what constitutes a good fabric glue in the first place.
For a start, with good fabric glue, you won’t have to worry about the yellowing effect that you get with some glues. This can obviously ruin the look of your jeans which you don’t want.
What’s more, you want to look for one that’s made from non-toxic, renewable materials ideally to support the environment.
Then, the strength of the fabric glue is important too. If it dries quickly and is ready to go after just a few minutes, then you can fix up your jeans and then be wearing them within a short space of time.
However, it’s important to note that while some glues may dry quickly and provide a simple, quick fix, they might not provide the same strong bond as others that take much longer to dry.
Related to the drying process, you want to find one that dries clearly. As I alluded to earlier, some can dry up and turn an unsavory yellow-like color, which won’t look great on your jeans.
Being machine-washable is also important, the sooner you can get it in the washing machine the better too. Some glues take longer to set, so you will have to wait a while before you can wash them, with others you can wash them within 20 minutes.
A stronger bond in the glue will allow you to machine wash your jeans continuously without worrying about the adhesive breaking down, so that’s worth bearing in mind.
As a last note, even though it may not seem like a big deal, think about how you want to apply the glue. Some fabric glues come bottled with applicators so they’re ready to go, while others can be applied easily with your fingers.
The 5 Best Fabric Glue For Jeans
Without further ado, let’s jump straight into my top 5 recommendations for the best glues for patching your jeans.
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tear Mender Instant Fabric Adhesive | Non toxic |
| 2. | Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive | Fast drying |
| 3. | Aleene’s Quick Dry Fabric Fusion Adhesive | Low odor |
| 4. | Dritz Home Unique Stitch Adhesive | Easy application |
| 5. | Original Gutermann HT2 Fabric Glue | Super strong |
1. Tear Mender Instant Fabric Adhesive
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First up on this list, we have this 2 oz bottle of instant fabric adhesive from the company Tear Mender.
As you can tell from their name, this company knows a lot about repairing rips and tears in clothing garments, so you know their product is up to the task. Other indicators that this is a quality product are the facts that it is waterproof, machine washable, and dry cleanable.
These three factors mean that you won’t have to worry about your jeans being in contact with liquid at any point during the gluing process.
This product also doesn’t require heat to be sealed. Some glues require you to iron over them to work properly, whereas with this one all that’s necessary is that you apply it to the damaged area of your jeans.
Made from non-toxic materials, you can be sure that you are using a product that is safe for the environment, which is always a plus.
Lastly, this glue is interesting in that you can use your fingers to apply it to your jeans due to its non-harmful composition. This makes those smaller tears and holes easier to fix since you can use your hands.
If you don’t have a jeans fabric patch yet, don’t worry, this company offers their glue in a package with a jeans patch to make your life easier.
2. Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive
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Next up is this permanent 8oz fabric glue from Beacon Adhesives.
A versatile glue that has a wide variety of applications, it’s worth having a bottle of Fabri-Tac at home at all times.
As an 8oz bottle, one of the main advantages of this fabric glue is that you can buy one, and use it for patching clothes and other purposes for the foreseeable future.
If you need a smaller one though, you can also choose from a 2oz or 4oz bottle, and pick the size that is most convenient for you.
This glue is also noteworthy for its fast-dry quality. As I mentioned earlier, the ability to dry quickly is an important aspect to bear in mind when choosing the right fabric glue.
If it dries quickly, you can patch up your jeans much quicker, and it can even be used for emergencies when you need an instant fix that will take shape immediately.
This glue is also machine-washable, so you’ll be able to throw your jeans in the wash soon after you’re done patching them up.
This product from Beacon Adhesives is considered by many to be one of the best on the market. It has received rave reviews from those who have used it, mainly for its ease of use, and for how long it lasts.
3. Aleene’s Quick Dry Fabric Fusion Adhesive
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This quick-dry fabric glue from Aleene’s is available in 2oz, 4oz, or 8oz bottles.
The main selling point of this glue—as you have probably figured out from the name—is that it is very quick to dry after use. One of the most important characteristics of fabric glues, this is reason alone to consider this product.
This glue is also non-toxic, giving it an eco-friendly status, which should be an important consideration too, given the current climate we find ourselves in.
You can rely on this glue to create a strong bond that will not easily be broken. This means that you will be free to walk around in your jeans without worrying that the same will happen to them again.
An extra bonus of this fabric glue is that is relatively odorless. So that strong smell that you associate with heavy-duty glue will not be as noticeable.
Like the last product, due to the non-toxic make-up of this glue, you’re fine to apply it with your fingers for an easy fix.
4. Dritz Home Unique Stitch Adhesive
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This smaller, 1.25 oz fabric glue from Dritz is notable for its toothpaste-like bottle.
The great thing about the design of this bottle is that you can easily apply the glue to the affected area of your jeans without even getting your hands messy.
Simply squeeze the tube as if you were squeezing toothpaste out, and that’s all there is to it.
Only available in this smaller size, this fabric glue is ideal for those quick fixes when you need to repair your jeans ASAP.
The small bottle also means you can expect an affordable price, so you won’t have to break the bank to patch up your jeans.
Like the other glues on this list, this offering from Dritz will create a strong bond, meaning you will be safe to machine wash your jeans once it sets into place.
However, the caveat to this product is that the setting time is approximately 24 hours. So you’ll have to bear in mind that this fix will require you to wait a day before you can put your jeans on again.
5. Original Gutermann HT2 Fabric Glue
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Last on this list, we have this 1oz fabric glue from Gutermann.
What makes this one special is that it is a super-strong bonding glue, so you won’t need to go over the area with a thread and needle, it will endure on its own.
Another thing, which might not immediately seem like a positive, is that you can heat-dry the glue. Although this might seem inconvenient, the advantage of being able to heat-dry the glue is that the seal will be that much stronger as a result.
So if you are especially worried that your jeans are going to need something strong to patch them up, then this is the glue to go for.
This fabric glue is machine washable, and won’t deteriorate or come off after washing it continually.
Finally, this fabric glue is flexible. Perhaps an odd term to attribute to glue you might think, but this just means that it will adapt to the fabric, and can move with it. In other words, it won’t be rigid and make your jeans feel like cardboard.
The Best Uses of Fabric Glue For Jeans
With fabric glue, you can patch up jeans as we have gone over, but you can also use it for a variety of other functions.
As a disclaimer, I’d strongly recommend that you read the packaging of the adhesive you’re using since you want to know how long it’ll take to dry, if it’s machine washable, and other important details.
With that out of the way, what are the best (alternative) uses for fabric glue when it comes to your jeans? I’ll outline 3 of my favorite uses to give you an idea of the possibilities.
Replacing Pockets
We know that fabric glue can be used to fix tears, rips, and holes in your jeans, but did you know it can also be used as a non-sew alternative to replacing damaged pockets?
Sewing pockets on can be a bit of a hassle, and unless you are well-versed in the art of knitting, you will probably have a hard time pulling it off.
Luckily for you, there’s another way. Get hold of some nonpermanent fabric glue, and stick the pocket back into place, leaving you with jeans that look as good as new.
Another advantage of using fabric glue for this is that you won’t have to carefully align your stitches to uphold the appearance of the jeans.
Embellishing
Next, let’s see how fabric glue can be used for embellishing. Embellishing refers to the process of adding accessories to your clothing, things like beads, fabric patches or studs.
So if you’re interested in creating a fresh look with your jeans, then fabric glue is the way to go.
Fabric glue comes out on top for embellishing since you can be sure that anything you want to stick onto your jeans will remain there as if they were a permanent fixture.
Take care to pick the right glue if you plan on embellishing. It’s important that you choose one that has a stronghold, and one that is ok to be machine washed. If not, the accessories are at risk of falling off in the wash.
Basting
Basting is a term often associated with cooking. It refers to the technique of applying liquid of some description, like a sauce to the meat in order to give it more flavor and moisture.
For our benefit though, basting refers to the process of sewing a temporary stitch, that is meant to hold the fabric together before you do the real thing.
How is this relevant to the use of fabric glue? Well, if you’re planning on doing some stitch work on your jeans, then you can use some nonpermanent glue for this basting process.
It will make the process easier for you, and gives you yet another reason to have some fabric glue around the house – even if you are proficient at sewing!
