Thread: Putting on crystals with an iron?

OK, I remember reading somewhere that if you are putting a load of hot-fix crystals at once you can lay them all out on the fabric and use a hot iron to seal them on?
Has anyone tried this?
I assume it would only be safe to do on quite large crystals so the heat of the iron is far enough away from the fabric to damage it.

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Hi lovely,I use the Kandi hot fix Applicator and it's amazingly simple to use,it just picks up the crystal(no matter what size,you get different attachments to use with every size)and it takes a couple of seconds to seal them on.It doesn't damage the fabric at all.It's so easy to use that I have to actually stop myself from rhinestoning everything in my wardrobe.
Hotfix Applicator Wand ONLY £22.00, spare tips - Specialist Suppliers of CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements
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Hey Harlot,

I do use a kandi kane on smaller items, but I was wondering if using a conventional iron would save time when doing really big flat areas of fabric?

Not in my experience ,but it could be that I didn't do it properly.If you go to the website that you purchase your crystals from,they should be able to advise you on how best to cover larger areas of fabric. I'd be interested to know the outcome,keep me posted.X

Hello!
I've used a iron to fix crystals and it worked brilliantly. I had to lay them out just a few at a time, though as they don't always stay still! it helps if you pre iron the fabric first, tonget rid of creases and bumps.
As long as the fabric can be ironed ( check labels / composition) then they should stick just fine. Make sure you use a pressing cloth (piece of fabric ) between the iron and crystals and press from both sides to make sure you get a good fix.
Good luck!
XXX

Originally Posted by Delilah Galore

Hello!
I've used a iron to fix crystals and it worked brilliantly. I had to lay them out just a few at a time, though as they don't always stay still! it helps if you pre iron the fabric first, tonget rid of creases and bumps.
As long as the fabric can be ironed ( check labels / composition) then they should stick just fine. Make sure you use a pressing cloth (piece of fabric ) between the iron and crystals and press from both sides to make sure you get a good fix.
Good luck!
XXX

Thanks Delilah !

Clearly my knowledge of ironing is pretty rubbish (the only things I iron are my costumes!) where can I get a pressing cloth from? I take it then I shouldn't just whack the iron straight on top of the crystals - thats probably a good idea now I come to think of it!

Sorry, i should have elaborated...!
A pressing cloth is just a clean piece of cotton fabric that you can iron. I use a piece of old pillowcase but a thin tea towel would be fine.
The iron will melt the crystals and you'll end up with a big sticky mess and ruined iron, unless you put something between them and the heat source.
If the fabric you're sticking on to is quite thin or has another side to it ( ie a T-shirt, knickers etc), it might be an idea to but some scrap fabric underneath it too, to stop the adhesive going through on to the ironing board / other side.
Hope this helps
XXX

thanks so much Delilah , thats all really helpfull!

Definatley gonna give this a go and report back!

xxxVxxx

Delilah 's advice is spot-on. It works, I promise. Not too many at once, and pressing-cloth v. important, but she has given you good advice. Worked for me on "Thoroughly Modern Millie" years ago, before these stick-things were invented.
There is another way if you don't have a candy cane or whatever they're called, involving an old frying pan and a pair of tweezers, but you don't want to know!

Vx