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I am wondering if any of you have experience attaching cystals on fabric?

My oldest DD is starting to show horses. I have been on-line looking at show-shirts and WHOA!!!!....spendy! We dont' need anything that fancy, but would like her to feel special. If I do this myself, I would like to bring some bling to the ring.

I see that Swarovski Hot Affix crystals are available at my local craft store. Do I NEED that tool? I get that it will heat the glue and bond it to the fabric, but yikes...what if I drop it on the shirt?, or hold it in place too long?
Can I simply use a good glue/adhesive? Brands?

What is your experience with attaching crystals to fabric?

there is a stik, I think called a candy cane? It is electric and you just hold it on the crystal and it sets it right on. I will go google it and see what it is called, I have one, but to find it??

ok, knew that candy was in the name the name is:

Kandi's Professional Touch hotfix applicator.

not sure if it works with swar. crystals but you can google it and find out!

• • • I haven't tried them (yet), but I've been tempted.

I've never burnt anything~ you would have to hold it a reaaallly long time to do that. I've only attached them to cotton things though, so maybe on something sheer it could happen. ~? I've been blinging more things lately and no problems, but I think you would need the wand as it has a dip in the tip that holds the crystal in place.

Have you seen the designs that are prepared so all you have to do is iron them on? That could be another option.

Hi, I have two tops that my DD Ironed on, they are fantastic and several washings later, are still in fine shape. Rather small, but "blingy".
Want more of them but don't remember where I got them. I would love to try the others with the Wand. Are the crystals very expensive?
nuquiltr

Tonya, I have a wand for the crystals and it really isn't a problem to use. One of the tips given to me when I was going to use it would be to put the crystals glue side down on a mirror. then use the wand to heat the crystal until you see the glue becoming liquid. At that point you transfer the crystal to the design on the fabric. It really works quite well.

Be sure that when you purchase crystals that you get the kind that has glue on them. there are some that you need to apply glue to the crystal. That would be more messy, stringy, and harder for me to work with than the pre-glued ones.

Another tip, if the crystal won't release from the wand when you need it to, use a long quilting straight pin through the slot on the wand to push it off the wand and onto the fabric. Use the tip of the wand that holds the crystal without "sucking" it up into the depression on the wand.

Have a good time with them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quilting wifey,

Just got my new Joann's flyer and they are on sale with 25% total purchase coupon. Kathy

I got mine at J Hittle for a really good price. It makes attaching crystals really easy.
The tip about the mirror is one I will be trying. There are several size tips with my wand to use with different size crystals.

Thank you all for the replies.
Deb, you have the Kandi Cane tool?
Wifey, what tool brand do you use? I see our JoAnn's has one...oh boy, just lost the name....

Yes, it is Kandi's. It has 7 tips. Supposedly the size is on the tip, however, with "mature eyes", I can't see it. I just match the tip to the crystal before heating up. I can't remember how much I paid but a lot less than a couple of other places I looked. I am surprised at how they last in the wash. I expected them to all be washed away but none came off.