Thermostrases 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 appliqués with rhinestones will remain a trend for a long time.
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 several rules regarding how to glue thermostrases with an iron, as well as using candles and glue.
What are rhinestones
Today, there are many types of rhinestones designed for decorating clothes. They are made of acrylic, plastic and glass.
The first ones are relatively cheap, they do not shine as bright as glass ones and, unfortunately, tend to cloud with time. Their main advantage is lightness, so clothes decorated with acrylic rhinestones will not be heavy.
The most beautiful artificial “gems” are, of course, glass ones. Depending on the composition of the glass from which they are made, rhinestones glisten, reflecting light differently. These are much more expensive than acrylic, are manufactured to strict standards and are used in jewelry.
The most famous glass rhinestones are manufactured by Swarowski. The famous brand is the standard in the manufacture of glass rhinestones. Many even call them “Swarowski stones” for their high quality and incredible resemblance to real jewels.
Methods for attaching rhinestones to fabric
You can fix rhinestones on the fabric in different ways. And the most famous way to glue thermostrases is by heating with an iron. From the name it follows that such a decoration has a flat base with a special adhesive coating. The latter melts under the influence of hot temperature and is absorbed into the fabric. Rhinestones without a glue base are attached to the fabric with special glue.
Another variety of rhinestones is sewn. They are fixed on the fabric with threads, come with a flat base and not, are available with one or two holes. Sewn on rhinestones can also be framed and resemble precious stones in design. Very well, such elements are suitable for inlaying and creating volumetric bright jewelry.
Another type of sewn rhinestones is a chain or thread. They are attached to a tape made of light metal or fabric and are sold per meter.
How to glue thermostrases on the fabric with an iron?
To fix the thermostrases on clothes, you will need:
- set of thermostats themselves;
- iron;
- test piece of tissue;
- paper.
To achieve the most satisfactory result, the following conditions must be observed:
- The clothes on which rhinestones will be glued should be clean. It is recommended to wash it first and walk along the fabric with a roller in order to get rid of excess fibers. 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 rhinestones.
Now about how to implement the process itself.
- Lay the rhinestones in the way you want on the fabric with the adhesive base down. Make sure that jams and creases do not form - after gluing rhinestones, it will not be possible to smooth the wrinkled fabric .
- Cover the rhinestones with paper and iron them. 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 silk or wool mode - if the fabric is not very thin - without steam. It is recommended to press a little on the iron so that the rhinestones stick better.
- Carefully remove the paper and allow the glue to cool.
Useful Tips
So that everything goes as it should, listen to the advice of those who have already gotten their hands on this case.
- Before gluing the thermostrases to the fabric, make sure that all elements have a sufficient amount of glue base. It happens that some rhinestones are not smeared with glue.
- Before decorating clothes, try sticking a few rhinestones on a test flap. Adjust the temperature of the iron, and then proceed to the main work.
- If you are going to sew clothes yourself, and do not decorate the finished product, it is reasonable to stick rhinestones on unstitched details.
- Try to iron the rhinestones as carefully as possible so as not to knock down the pattern.
- Wash already decorated clothes in cold water in the manual wash mode, after turning it inside out.
- To glue rhinestones on leather products, you must first degrease the material. It is impossible to iron the skin with iron, therefore, special thermal guns or a candle are used to decorate leather products with rhinestones.
- It is not recommended to glue thermostrases on glue, since they already have an adhesive base. You can resort to this method in exceptional cases if, for example, one pebble has come unstuck after long wear.
- On knitted fabric, rhinestones will be worse to hold in places of constant tension, therefore it is necessary to place the pattern with this aspect in mind. Before gluing the thermostrases, make sure that they do not appear in the places of folds and do not rub against other items of clothing.
Gluing rhinestones on glue
Ordinary rhinestones without an adhesive base are glued to the fabric with a special water-based adhesive. 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 to warm the glue stick to the desired temperature. The procedure is quite long and painstaking, because you have to glue each rhinestone separately.
Bonding rhinestones using candles
This method is suitable if the material cannot be ironed. Here is a detailed instruction on how to glue thermostrases using a candle:
- Flatten the fabric and lay out the rhinestones as needed.
- Light a candle. Keep wax away from the fabric.
- Take one rhinestone with tweezers and, holding high above the candle flame, heat the adhesive coating.
- Attach the rhinestone to the fabric with a flat base and press the back of the tweezers. Do not rush to immediately remove the tweezers: press on the rhinestone for 30 seconds, so it sticks 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.