Thermal rhinestones are a great way to decorate your clothes and give them a unique look. With their help, it is possible to perform almost any pattern on the fabric. In addition, the latest fashion trends indicate that sparkling prints and rhinestone appliqués will be in trend for a long time to come.
It is possible to create a unique image at home, you just have to stock up on artificial "gems" and other necessary tools. In order not to spoil the clothes chosen for decoration, you should follow a few rules on how to glue thermal rhinestones with an iron, as well as using a candle and glue.
What are rhinestones
Today there are many types of rhinestones designed to decorate clothes. They are made from acrylic, plastic and glass.
The first ones are relatively cheap, they do not shine as brightly as glass ones and, unfortunately, tend to become cloudy over time. Their main advantage is lightness, so clothes decorated with acrylic rhinestones will notsevere.
The most beautiful artificial "gems" are, of course, glass ones. Depending on the composition of the glass from which they are made, rhinestones shine, reflecting light in different ways. These are much more expensive than acrylics, are made to exacting standards, and are used in jewelry.
The most famous glass rhinestones are produced by Swarowski. The famous brand is the benchmark in the manufacture of glass rhinestones. Many even call them "Swarowski stones" for their high quality and incredible resemblance to real jewelry.
Methods of attaching rhinestones to fabric
You can fix rhinestones on fabric in different ways. And the most famous way to glue thermal rhinestones is heating with an iron. From the name it follows that such an ornament has a flat base with a special adhesive coating. The latter melts under the action of hot temperature and is absorbed into the fabric. Glueless rhinestones are attached to the fabric with special glue.
Another kind of rhinestones - sewn. They are fixed on the fabric with threads, they come with a flat base and not, they are produced with one or two holes. Also, sewn-on rhinestones can be framed and designed to resemble precious stones. Such elements are very well suited for inlay and creating voluminous bright jewelry.
Another type of sew-on rhinestones is connected in a chain or thread. They are attached to a strip of light metal or fabric and are sold by the meter.
How to gluethermal rhinestones on fabric iron?
To fix thermal rhinestones on clothes, you will need:
- set of thermal rhinestones themselves;
- iron;
- trial piece of fabric;
- paper.
To achieve the most satisfactory result, the following conditions must be observed:
- The clothes on which the rhinestones will be glued must be clean. It is recommended to pre-wash it and walk on the fabric with a roller to get rid of excess villi. This will provide better adhesive adhesion.
- If you plan to make an application or a complex pattern that requires preliminary marking, you need to make sure that the marked lines are not visible after gluing the rhinestones.
Now about how to carry out the process itself.
- Lay out the rhinestones in the way you need on the fabric with the glue base down. Make sure that no creases and wrinkles are formed - after gluing the rhinestones, it will no longer be possible to smooth out the wrinkled fabric.
- Cover the rhinestones with paper and iron. If the fabric is thin, also place paper inside. It is important to do this before laying out the rhinestones so as not to knock them off the markings and prevent the fabric from sticking together. Iron in the "silk" or "wool" mode - if the fabric is not very thin - without steam. It is recommended to apply a little pressure on the iron so that the rhinestones adhere better.
- Carefully remove the paper and let the glue cool.
Helpful tips
For everything to go as it should, heed the advice of those who have already got their hands on this case.
- Before gluing thermal rhinestones on the fabric, make sure that all elements have a sufficient amount of adhesive backing. It happens that some rhinestones are not smeared with glue.
- Before embellishing clothes, try gluing a few rhinestones on a trial patch. Adjust the temperature of the iron, and then proceed to the main work.
- If you are going to sew your own clothes, rather than embellishing the finished product, it is wise to stick rhinestones on parts that have not yet been sewn.
- Try to iron the rhinestones as carefully as possible so as not to knock down the pattern.
- Wash already embellished clothes in cold water in the hand wash mode, after turning it inside out.
- To glue rhinestones on leather products, you must first degrease the material. You can’t iron leather, so special heat guns or a candle are used to decorate leather products with rhinestones.
- It is not recommended to glue thermal rhinestones with glue, as they already have an adhesive backing. You can resort to this method in exceptional cases, if, for example, one pebble has come unstuck after a long wear.
- On knitted fabric, rhinestones will stick worse in places of constant stretching, so you need to place the pattern taking this aspect into account. Before gluing thermal rhinestones, make sure that they will not be in folds and will not rub against other items of clothing.
Glue rhinestones with glue
Ordinary rhinestones without a glue base are glued to the fabric with a special water-based glue. It is important to choose a quality glue that will not leave yellow marks on the fabric after drying.
Another way is to use a special thermal gun that heats the glue stick to the desired temperature. The procedure is quite long and painstaking, because you have to glue each rhinestone separately.
Glue rhinestones using a candle
This method is suitable if the material cannot be ironed. Here is a detailed instruction on how to glue thermal rhinestones using a candle:
- Spread the fabric and lay out the rhinestones as needed.
- Light the candle. Be careful not to get wax on the fabric.
- Take one rhinestone with tweezers and, holding it high above the candle flame, heat the adhesive coating.
- Apply the rhinestone to the fabric with the flat base and press with the back of the tweezers. Do not rush to immediately remove the tweezers: press on the rhinestone for 30 seconds, so it will stick better.
This method is suitable for decorating with rhinestones not only fabric products, but also various accessories, shoes, outerwear, interior items and various other crafts.
