How To Use Mod Podge On Fabric Tutorial (2024)

You can use Mod Podge on fabric, paper, wood, plastic, ceramics, terra cotta, and almost anything! I love using fabric on furniture and Fabric Mod Podge makes it easy. Mod Podge dries clear and is permanent. My favorite thing to decoupage or Mod Podge is furniture, but the decoupage process is the same for home decor, etc.

There are so many formulas of Mod Podge and most of them are interchangeable, meaning you can use regular Mod Podge for fabric or paper or whatever. I’ve also heard Mod Podge pronounced as Modge Podge. Whatever works!

Mod Podge Is Similar To White Craft Glue And Is A Sealer

Remember the $2.50 sewing machine I bought at auction? The makeover is complete. I transformed the piece into a desk and added a matching chair. I used Mod Podge ® and bold floral fabric to cover the messed-up top of the cabinet.

First, I’m going to show you how I decoupaged the fabric to the top of the sewing table then I’m going to show you how I prepped and painted the cabinet. Kind of backward but that’s me.

Mod Podge or Decoupage Fabric To Furniture

The fabric is a remnant I bought a while ago. It was $2.67. You never know when a good find will come in handy. I try to ensure the remnant is large enough to cover one chair seat.

The first thing I do when using fabric in a decoupage project is to wash and dry the fabric then coat it with Fabric Mod Podge. This is the perfect answer to the problem of frayed fabric ends. I used my Mod Podge brush to apply a heavy coat of Fabric Mod Podge to the fabric on the top side. (It probably doesn’t matter what side you Mod Podge.)

I let the fabric dry thoroughly, then cut it to the size of the sewing cabinet top. You can see in the top right bottom photo the cut edge of the fabric. No fraying. Fabric Mod Podge is also great for fabric-to-fabric decoupage. It is permanent when cured and the items can be hand washed.

Hard Coat Mod Podge

I pulled the Hard Coat Mod Podge formula from my product stash. The Hard Coat formula is great to use on surfaces that will be handled frequently or in high-traffic areas, like bookshelves and furniture.

I first brushed a heavy coat of the Hard Coat on the top of the cabinet and then brushed a heavy coat on the back of the fabric. I find it’s best to cover both surfaces with the Mod Podge before putting them together. More Mod Podge is better than too little.

I worked any bubbles out using the Brayer tool. The fabric will be wet for a while. The drying time for the Mod Podge depends on temperature and humidity. The fabric dried to the top with no bubbles. Doing the happy dance.

After the Mod Podge dried thoroughly, I applied three coats of Hard Coat Mod Podge over the fabric to seal and protect it from damage. The Mod Podge needs to dry thoroughly between coats. I waited overnight to reapply.

The front of the cabinet folds down to reveal a small storage area. It’s just big enough for pencils and pens and maybe a few small pieces of chocolate, lol.

The Hard Coat cleans up easily while wet with soap and water. It can be sanded to a smooth finish but I didn’t do any sanding. There is a slight texture to the finish but nothing dramatic. The fabric edges are clean and straight too, thanks to Fabric Mod Podge.

What young girl wouldn’t love this desk and chair? You could also use Mod Podge Glitter to add a little sparkle.

More Mod Podge Projects

I decoupaged a nightstand with girly fabric, changed the knobs and the nightstand isn’t even close to what it looked like before the makeover. You have to see it to believe it. Take a look here……Furniture Makeover: Change Drawer Pulls | Paint | Decoupage With Fabric

How To Repair And Paint A Sewing Cabinet

I will show you the paint I used on the sewing cabinet and tell you why I had to drill a hole for the knob; although there was a hole there already but it didn’t go all the way through….and more details. Oh, and I also have the tutorial for the desk chair makeover, including where to find the fabric.

The cabinet had a lot of issues. I removed the sewing machine insides myself. The JTS is always helping me and I gave him a break on this one because he wasn’t feeling well. I peeled off the veneer on the top of the cabinet because it was mostly loose anyway.

The JTS added two screws to the top of the cabinet so it would not come open. Now it’s just a tabletop or desk top instead of an opening for the sewing machine.

The top was really rough where the veneer was removed. I used the electric sander to smooth it out. You can see all the dust from the sanding on the top edges. Now the top is ready for the fabric and Mod Podge.

Next, I found some white paint in my stash. Still trying to use the paint I have on hand. Just about the only paint I buy these days is the oops paint when I find a good color.

The paint I chose for the project is Delta Ceramcoat Chalk/Matte, color White Lace. One coat of paint wasn’t enough as you can see in this photo.

I didn’t notice until I started painting the cabinet that there was a big hole where I removed some of the working sewing machine parts. I had the JTS cut a piece of board to fill the hole but I forgot to get a photo before I took it to the shop to sell. If the cabinet isn’t sold, I’ll try to get a photo. I like to be thorough in my photo stories.

I lightly distressed the paint by hand using flexible 150 grit sandpaper. I think you are really supposed to wax this paint but I didn’t and it’s fine.

The last order of business for the table was to add a pull. The front of the cabinet had a small drawer area that flipped down but the knob was gone. When I tried to put a knob in the hole, I found the hole didn’t go all the way through the wood. That’s not a problem. I just grabbed the drill and finished up the hole.

I found this knob at Hobby Lobby, and as you can see, it matches the fabric I used to cover the chair seat and decoupage the top of the cabinet.

That’s the paint stuff for the sewing machine cabinet and I shared the decoupage tutorial at the first of the post.

I bought this chair or either the JTS did at auction. I can’t remember but I’m sure it didn’t cost much, less than $5. Removing the seat is easy, just flip the chair upside down and remove the screws to the seat.

I wanted a nice contrast to the cabinet, so I chose black paint for the chair. The paint is FolkArt Home Décor Chalk, which covers in one coat. Nice.

I distressed the paint by hand using flexible sandpaper and sanding the paint very lightly.

I did wax the chair because a black chalk finish or matte paint is bad for showing chalky white fingerprints and other things when you don’t wax it. The wax I used is also FolkArt Home Décor.

You guys have seen me cover a chair seat a bunch of times. If you need a tutorial, you can find it here….How To Re-cover A Chair Seat.

Only thing left to do is put the seat back on the chair.

Now you have all the details on the sewing cabinet makeover. I forgot to mention that I bought my fabric remnant at Hobby Lobby.

The difference between the before and after is like night and day. Maybe you don’t have anything to be painted or Mod Podged! Refresh your stained furniture with stain markers and wax. See how I easily refreshed stained furniture in the video below….

Tutorial- How To Cover Scratches And Refresh The Furniture Finish

What about the makeover? Do you guys like it? Did I inspire you to decoupage something?

The supplies for this project can be found on Amazon; click the pink links below:
Hard Coat Mod Podge
Fabric Mod Podge
Mod Podge Tool Kit
Professional Decoupage Tool Kit

Find the blue desk with the Prima Transfer here.

See another furniture and fabric project using Mod Podge here…..Changing Furniture Hardware For A Modern Look

If you’re not familiar with Mod Podge, it’s America’s Favorite Decoupage Medium™. Over the past 50 years, Mod Podge has expanded from the original Matte and Gloss formulas and is now available in 21 unique finishes in a wide range of sizes, from 2 oz. to classroom-size gallons.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Plaid Crafts as part of the Plaid Creators program. All words, project ideas, and photographs are 100% my own.