How do I apply HotFix Swarovski rhinestones?

This season, sequins and rhinestones are back in the spotlight. It has to shine, it has to light up, it has to sparkle against the gray of autumn-winter. And we're no longer content to just wear them in the evening! On the contrary, we're putting crystal rhinestones everywhere, on everyday outfits as well as nightwear.

And there's plenty to do! There are several types of crystal rhinestones in different sizes, shapes (round, heart, square, star, fan, triangle...), colors and effects:

• glue-on rhinestones using a suitable glue,
• sew-on rhinestones to attach with needle and thread,
• hotfix rhinestones with a pre-glued backing that sets under the action of heat.

Ever wondered how to apply iron-on rhinestones ? This data sheet will answer all your questions, giving you all the information you need to use hotfix rhinestones.

Iron-on crystal rhinestones are ideal for customizing clothing, accessories such as bags and shoes, and decorative objects such as
cushions. Now you can create ultra-customized tops and evening clutches that look like no other!

The Hotfix application principle

Hotfix crystal rhinestones don't need glue to be attached to fabric. In fact, their flat base is coated with a heat-activated adhesive, making application quick and easy. This adhesive is activated by heat (applied directly, indirectly or by ultrasound), to adhere to the textile substrate. Once cooled, the adhesive fixes the crystal components firmly and permanently to the base material.
Hotfix rhinestones make it easy to apply Swarovski rhinestones not only to fabric, but also to wood, metal or cardboard.
The adhesive used to bond crystal rhinestones is wash-resistant and easy to care for. Application temperature, time and pressure must be adjusted according to the nature of the textile base.

How do I apply rhinestones to a garment?

How do I apply hot fix rhinestones to fabric? It's a question you may have asked yourself when you wanted to make a carnival costume for your youngest or a costume for your daughter's, niece's or granddaughter's ballet gala.
The rhinestones are attached to the garments using a heat source. There are several ways to do this: using arhinestone applicator or an iron.

Attaching rhinestones with a Hotfix applicator

Hotfix applicator styli offer a cost-effective solution for fusing elements. These hotfix rhinestone applicators come with tips ranging from 2 to 9 mm, adapted to the shape of your crystals to be bonded.
If you're wondering where to buy a rhinestone applicator, look no further! Find all our heated applicators and their tips to apply iron-on rhinestones quickly and easily to your DIY accessories and decorative objects.

To find out more about how to use this rhinestone positioning pencil, take a look at our datasheet on how to customize your garments using the hotfix applicator. Watch your fingers! When applying rhinestones, the applicator tip and tips become very hot. Wait for them to cool before changing tips.

Gluing rhinestones with an iron

As a general rule, all glass Hotfix iron-on rhinestones can be glued on with an iron. However, as this device offers only limited control over pressure and temperature, it may sometimes be useful to use a heating press.
The soleplate of the iron must not be pierced to allow steam to escape; uneven pressure and the presence of water and steam droplets will impair the quality of application.
Finally, always iron on a firm, flat and even work surface.

As a general rule, the application time should be sufficient to allow the heat to activate the iron-on adhesive and enable it to penetrate the fibers of the base textile substrate. It usually takes just a few minutes for the rhinestone to bond to the substrate.

However, the application time required with an iron depends on a number of criteria:

• Hotfix elements used,
• the temperature selected on the iron,
• the equipment used,
• the nature of the textile base,
• the heat application surface.

To adapt them to your application, we recommend you carry out preliminary tests on the selected base material. Start at a low temperature, so that you can increase it as the test phases progress.

Finishing

Iron-on adhesive generally takes 24 hours to set completely. Wash or perform quality tests after this time to ensure that your rhinestones do not peel off.

Unsuitable textiles

However, not all textiles are recommended. Some fabrics and special finishes are not suitable for Hotfix application, due to their low absorption capacity.
Here's a list of unsuitable textiles and finishes:

• Very thickly woven textiles
• Very fine textiles, such as tulle
• Smooth leather and imitation leather
• Water-repellent or waterproofing treatments (silicone, synthetic resin used as a waterproofing agent)
• Teflon® coatings
• Stain-resistant treatments
• Easy-care treatments
• Fluorocarbon finishes
• Softening agents
• Certain dyes (dyes containing metallic pigments)
• Enzymatic treatments

It may sometimes be advisable to wash the textile substrate before application to remove any unwanted finishes (especially softening agents) and thus improve absorption capacity.

Common problems encountered when applying hotfix rhinestones

Here are the problems you may encounter and their solutions:

Now that you know all there is to know about hotfix rhinestones, it's time to get practical. Discover our wide range of hotfix rhinestones and get started! Follow our tutorial to learn how to create a motif with rhinestones. Quick and easy to use, give your old T-shirts a second life!