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How Do I Apply Rhinestone Appliques?


 

Applying our rhinestone designs to your favorite garmet or bag is SO easy.  You'll LOVE the professional look you get, doing it yourself on items you love!

Fabrics That May Or May Not Be Used

YES: cottons, cotton blends, wool, silk, velveteen, velour, denim (the softer the better), t-shirts and sweatshirts are probably your easiest fabrics; lycra, slinky (a little trickier, but possible), cotton sweaters are easiest.  Always test fabrics if you’re not sure, read the garment hang tag.

NO: nylon jackets, velvet, acrylic, leather, vinyl, trigger (fabrics with a finish).  Remember to read the article’s content tags.

ConnectTheBlocks.com and the applique manufacturer take no responsibility for the application or your iron.

Easy to Apply Directions

  1. Always iron on a hard, flat surface (no padded ironing board).  Lay out your shirt.
  2. Peel off the white backing of the design.
  3. Place the sticky side down onto fabric.  If not in the desired place, you may pick up the design and place it again and again.  Cut it apart, change it, nothing is permanent until you press it on.
  4. Put the pressing cloth over the design.  (I prefer the non-stick pressing cloth, because I have scorched all the cotton cloths.  You may use a pressing cloth as lightweight as a man’s handkerchief.)
  5. Set your iron on a WOOL setting – NO STEAM.  Temperature may be adjusted as needed.  All irons are different.
  6. Place your iron on the pressing cloth on top of the design.  Your iron will sit there a minimum of 45 – 60 seconds.  Do not move your iron.  Let it sit in place.  This makes you nervous.  BUT – the length of time and your temperature is what is melting the glue.  Make sure your iron sits there long enough. (I count:  1-Mississipi, 2-Mississippi, etc. to at least 50.)  If the iron sits there long enough and the glue isn’t getting melted, then the temperature of your iron will need to be adjusted.
  7. Once you have let the iron sit in one place for 60 seconds, take the front half of your iron and press down in small sections at a time.  This will help with different size pieces and different heights of pieces in your designs.
  8. If your design is larger than your iron, move the pressing cloth with the iron, and do the next section.  Don’t worry about overlap.  It is also a good idea to turn your shirt inside out and repeat the instructions and press from the backside.
  9. Now, let the plastic cool.  There should be a slight ripple or bubbling in the plastic.  If the plastic is perfectly flat, your iron was probably not warm enough.  If it looks like the edges are shrinking, your iron might be a little too warm. If it is really shrunken and you have melted the plastic onto the garment – your iron is way too warm.  Check your temperature. When the plastic is cool, the glue has had time to cool off (approximately 5 minutes).  Your sticky plastic will remove easier if you run the iron over the top of the design.  This will warm up the plastic and make it easier to peel off.  If there are pieces sticking to the clear plastic, you have missed a section. OR if you have let the iron sit there long enough, your iron is not warm enough.  Turn up the temperature and repeat process until you get the glue melted.
  10. If there are larger crystals in the designs, size 16ss or 20ss, keep in mind that with the extra depth, you’ll need to use more time to melt the glue -- approximately 75 – 90 seconds.  If there are small flat pieces next to the larger pieces, make sure they get ironed on securely.

Your project is now complete! Now make sure the pieces are securely bonded. Rub your palms across the design, up and down, back and forth.  Use your thumbnail and aggressively scrape at the pieces. If anything feels loose, you’ll need to re-iron. Once the glue is permanently melted, your garment can be machine washed, machine dried or dry cleaned.  TEST IT!  You have to melt the glue to make it permanent.  Everyone’s iron is different. Turn inside out to launder.  Designs that contain FLAT colored metals should be hung to dry (such as red, blue, etc.).

Heat Press: Iron for 10-15 seconds at 350 degrees Fahrenheit using light to light medium pressure. If you are using cabochons, make sure to turn the shirt inside out and press again from the wrong side.  Let it cool, remove plastic and press again with more pressure.  You can also turn it inside out and press from the wrong side.

No responsibility is taken for the reliability of your iron. Irons may heat up after being used for a while.

As much as we hate to say this, we think the sequins should be air-dried. They will last longer if they are not put into the dryer.