Iron on hot fix rhinestone applique question

[fortifiedwithtea]

I want to make my DD an ice skating costume for a competition that is less than 3 weeks away.

I've never glued rhinestones before by any method and I'm hoping to find a way to embellish the dress speedily as I've left it a bit late.

Can ready made appliques be used on lycra?

I've seen plenty of yt tutorials on t-shirts but they would be cotton.

Would an iron on transfer stick to a 100% man made fabric? Also how hot does the iron need to be? Can lycra withstand the heat required?

TIA

[lavendersun]

I have some of these somewhere - I will try to dig them out later and have a look at the instructions or post a link to which ones I have.

[lavendersun]

These are what I bought - haven't used them yet but the reviews are good and a bit helpful

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FJ0PPVA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[antumbra]

Lycra garments can be ironed only to 130 degrees C. Iron on transfers need 170 degrees for the glue to melt and stick- so no you won't be able to stick them to lycra.
I would buy a glue gun and stick stones individually or sew decals on or little strings of bling.

[fortifiedwithtea]

lavendersun looks encouraging for use on floaty fabric.

antumbra your point is what I was concerned about. Do you think using a tea towel over the top will protect the lycra or stop enough heat getting though to melt the glue?

I've steered clear of glue guns, I'm the sort that would make a terrible mess and have glue strings.

Thank you both for your replies

[lavendersun]

Fortified - dont you think that floaty netting would be roughly the same as Lycra in terms of temperature tolerance?

I would give it a go on a bit of spare fabric for the £2 or so you can get the sparkly bits for.

Always willing to have a go - will probably be my epitaph though.

[KatyMac]

I used a hot fix applicator for individual crystals but any transfers I have only put onto georgette not lycra

I have made my own tranfers & put them on lycra - but I'm not sure how (with an iron & a teatowel & my heart in my mouth)

[fortifiedwithtea]

lavendersun - agree with what you're saying and it is tempting. But lycra has that extra difficulty of 4 way stretch. The glue has got to melt enough to get into the fibres so that when the fabric is stretched, the stones don't ping off.

Good to hear your comments too, KatyMac. Interesting you've had a go on georgette, might try that in the future

I'm mulling over the idea of cutting out the pattern piece and trying the transfer before sewing. Then if I cock it up, I've only wasted one piece of fabric not the whole garment.

[KatyMac]

I checked I can find photos of them on 4 way stretch Lycra - so it can be done

[fortifiedwithtea]

I found a web-site somewhere in America where a woman made and sold transfers and she gave a list of fabrics that it would work on. She said lycra was a yes but not easy. Unfortunately, no pictures.

I'm going to try some on t-shirts first and work my way up.