How to Put Crystals on Clothes
Adding crystals or rhinestones to an item of clothing is a great way to jazz up some older garments that have seen better days or make a dress extra special. The actual process of sticking the crystals to the fabric is not difficult but it will take some planning to get the design right. This is because it is very difficult to go back and correct mistakes once the process has been started. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wash the item of clothing in the normal way to ensure there is no dirt or grease that will stop the glue from taking hold.
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Lay the item of clothing on a flat surface and start to design the crystal pattern. A line around the hem is an easy way to start and learn before moving onto more complex designs.
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Apply a little fabric glue to the back of a crystal and stick it on a scrap piece of cloth. Turn it over to see if the glue is seeping though the back. There needs to be enough glue so it just seeps through but will not leave lumps of dried glue on the inside of the item.
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Use a similar quantity of glue on the crystals for the real item and start sticking the crystals in the pattern desired. Work carefully so previously glued crystals are not inadvertently disturbed before they dry. Leave the item to dry overnight for the glue to set.
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Sew the crystals onto the fabric using a double length of thread and passing the needle through the hole in the crystal twice. Sometime this will not be possible if the crystals have been made without a hole in the middle. This is very time consuming but will ensure the crystals will not fall off.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you think about the color scheme of the crystals and how they will go with the item rather than just throwing on lots of different colors.
Although fabric glue and crystal manufactures will claim this is washing machine proof it is best to hand wash these items to ensure the crystals stay on the clothing.
Premade rhinestone and crystal designs can be purchased and simply glued on. This will save time and deliver a very impressive effect.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
