Attaching rhinestones to clothing can beautifully enhance your wardrobe, adding sparkle and elegance. Common examples include evening gowns for that extra touch of glamour, casual denim jackets for a fun and edgy look, elegant evening wear to elevate the occasion, dance costumes to catch the light on stage, and even everyday items like t-shirts and caps for a personalised flair.
Embellishing items of clothing with rhinestones is a simple and enjoyable way to get creative and add sparkle to your wardrobe. Whether you choose hotfix rhinestones, which come with a pre-applied adhesive that melts under heat to secure the stone, or go with the non hotfix method, which requires glue for attachment, both methods are straightforward. With the correct tools for the job and a bit of patience, you can easily customize your garments, turning everyday items into dazzling pieces that showcase your unique style.
However, as with any form of rhinestone embellishment, general wear and tear can result in stones becoming loose or falling off, especially if the garment is regularly worn and washed. This guide is here to help you restore that lost sparkle and offer repair and maintenance tips.
Assessing the Damage
- General Care of Garment - Every so often, you should inspect your rhinestone item of clothing to check for loose or missing rhinestones. Loss of rhinestones is most likely to be caused by general wear and tear, overuse, mis-handling of garment or over washing.
- Identify Damaged Area – Take note of any areas that are particularly damaged or have crystals missing. You may find a residue of glue left behind or some loose thread if it's a missing sew on stone.
Gathering Necessary Materials
For rhinestone repairs you will need:
- Replacement rhinestones (see paragraph below on choosing the correct rhinestones)
- Craft glue or hotfix applicator depending on whether you have used hotfix or non hotfix rhinestones
- Rhinestone pick up tool if using the glue on method.
- Needle and thread for replacing sew on stones.
Choosing the Right Rhinestones
To make your rhinestone clothing look as good as new again, it is important that you identify which crystals are missing and replace them with the same ones. If you kept the stones that fell off it is much easier to find what you need, but if the stones are missing you will need to look at the surrounding rhinestones and work out what was there before.
- Are they hotfix or non hotfix? If you still have some of the stones that fell off, or if any are loose, take a look at the back. If the foil backing is smooth it is most likely to be a non hotfix rhinestone. If the foil backing is textured, it is most likely to be hotfix.
- What colour are they? Use our online colour chart to help identify the correct colour, or send them to us and we will advise you. If the stones are missing completely, take a look at the colours of the surrounding stones and choose the closest match.
- What brand are they? Have a look at the pattern in the facets of the remaining rhinestones, Swarovski and Zodiac crystals have a star shape cut into the stone, whereas Preciosa crystals look more like a traditional rhinestone (see image below)
- What size are they? Rhinestones are measured in mm, which equates to a Stone Size (SS). For example, 4mm = SS16. Use an accurate rule or tape measure to get an exact size in mm, then use our online size chart to convert it to the SS size. If you are unsure on sizing, contact us and we can help with this.
- What shape is it? If you are missing some sew on shapes, it should be easy to identify what's missing by checking the surrounding rhinestones. Common sew on shapes for clothing embellishment include peardrops, navettes, squares and rivolis. Read how to embellish with sew on stones.
Preparation for Repair
- Cleaning – Make sure your garment is clean, dust and dirt free. This ensures the new rhinestones will adhere properly to the fabric and will stop any little bits sticking to the glue.
- Proper Working Area – Give yourself plenty of clean space to work, have all of your required tools nearby for easy access, make sure your work surface is solid and flat. It is best to make repairs in natural daylight so you don't strain your eyes.
- Colour Matching – Before staring your repair job, make sure you have selected the right rhinestones to match the existing ones (see above). We can help with this if you are unsure, simply contact us for advice. Or you can purchase a colour chart.
Replacing Lost Stones
NON HOTFIX METHOD
If you are using embellishing with non hotfix rhinestones, we advise using Gem Tac or E6000 glue. Squeeze a small amount of glue (smaller than the size of your rhinestone) onto the fabric, allow a few seconds to get tacky, then pick up and place the rhinestone on top of the glue using a pick up tool. Push the rhinestone down with enough pressure to ensure the glue bonds, but not too much that the glue seeps out from the edges. Don't worry if it does seep, it will dry crystal clear.
It is important to use the correct glue for your fabric. Once you have the right glue, we recommend using an applicator syringe to apply it neatly and in small amounts.
HOTFIX METHOD
If you are embellishing with hotfix rhinestones, you will need a household iron or hotfix applicator wand to apply them. To iron on rhinestones, place the stones shiny side up onto the fabric in your desired position, then cover with a sheet of baking paper to protect the fabric. Next, iron over the top (without any steam) for 10-20 seconds. The heat from the iron will melt the glue on the rhinestone and bond it to the fabric. To apply rhinestones with a hotfix wand, make sure you have the correct size tip screwed in, allow the tool to heat up, then use it to pick up and place the rhinestones.
SEW ON METHOD
If you are embellishing with sew on stones, you will need to have a needle and thread, preferably a thread that matches colour with your fabric. Some people like to glue their sew on stone in position first, to give extra durability, but it's up to you. Once in position, sew the needle from the back of the fabric (inside of garment) through the hole in the rhinestone and bring it back down through the fabric as close to the stone as possible. Repeat this a few times to ensure a strong hold. Do this for every hole in the stone.
Reinforcing Existing Stones
To reinforce loose but still attached rhinestones on clothing and prevent future loss, regularly inspect your garments for any stones that might have loosened. If you find any, apply a small amount of the appropriate adhesive (for Non Hotfix stones), such as Gem Tac, to the back of the stone and press firmly down. However, if the loose stone is missing some of the foil backing, has lost a bit of its original sparkle, or it has shifted position, we would recommend peeling it off altogether and replacing it with a new one.
You may have a sew on stone that has come loose, if this is the case, simply find a matching thread and sew it back into place. Some people also glue the stone onto the fabric first for extra durability.
Aftercare and Maintenance
Regular maintenance and care of your rhinestone clothing will prolong its sparkle and lifespan, so it is important to look after your garment.
- Drying Time – Once you have glued all your rhinestones into place, it is important to allow plenty of time for them to dry, 24 hours if possible. If you handle the garment, move it, or accidentally touch any of the drying rhinestones, it may cause them to move position or to come away from the fabric. This will affect the bond between the glue and the fabric so is likely to come loose.
- Storage – To prevent future damage to your item, ensure it is properly stored. The best way to store rhinestone clothing is hung up in a wardrobe, preferably in a suit bag to keep it away from dust. This is also the best way to transport it.
- Cleaning - If the item of clothing needs to be washed, we always recommend hand washing, inside out if possible. Use only warm water with a small amount of detergent, and avoid fabric conditioner. Also avoid using a washing machine, dry cleaners or tumble dryer.
Preventive Measures
Minimise rhinestone loss in the future through careful wearing, storage, and cleaning practices as mentioned above. It is always a good idea to regularly check your item of clothing for loose stones, so you can reattach them before they fall off entirely.
Keeping your rhinestone embellished clothing in good shape is important for making sure it always looks great and lasts longer. Simple care and adding new crystals now and then can make old costumes shine like new, saving money and keeping special outfits ready for when you need them.