How to Apply Swarovski Hotfix Crystals to Fabric

Adding a touch of glamour to your clothing has never been easier - thanks to Swarovski crystals! These sparkly gems can transform an ordinary outfit into a runway-ready piece, and guess what? You don't need to be a professional designer to do this at home. In this comprehensive guide, we're going to walk you through the process of how to attach Swarovski crystals to fabric and breathe new life into your wardrobe - so let’s take a look!

What Swarovski crystals are best for fabric? 

When it comes to adding a dash of sparkle to your garments, not all Swarovski crystals are created equal. The best choice for fabric embellishment is going to be the  Hotfix swarovski crystal: these rhinestones come with a heat-activated glue on the back, specifically designed to securely attach to fabric.

The Hotfix technology ensures a sturdy, long-lasting bond, perfect for creating swarovski rhinestones for clothes - they’re also much quicker to use than non Hotfix crystals, which require seperate glue. This makes them a popular choice among fashion enthusiasts and designers who want to apply crystals to larger or more complex items, such as dresses. With a range of sizes, shapes, and colours, Hotfix crystals also offer a multitude of creative possibilities for your fashion projects - the sky really is the limit!

Check that the fabric is suitable

The first thing you’ll want to do is check that the fabric you want to use is suitable for hotfix application. In order to stick the crystals onto the material, it’s going to need to be able to absorb the glue.

A very quick way to test this is to apply a drop of water to the fabric. If it absorbs it, it’s going to absorb the glue. You’ll find most fabrics will successfully pass the absorption test. The materials you’ll really struggle with include waxy, shiny fabrics.

Make use of an applicator

We highly recommend investing in a good quality applicator. This won’t just make it easier to apply the Swarovski hotfix crystals, but it'll also improve precision and make it less messy.

We stock a selection of applicators suitable for hotfix crystal application. It's a good idea to research each tool to see how they compare. Using the right applicator, wait for the glue to heat up before applying the crystal to the fabric. If you don’t wait long enough, it isn’t going to stick as well.

You can also use the applicator to fix any crystals which are applied in the wrong place. You can simply use the side of the applicator to gently nudge the crystal into its correct position. If the crystal gets stuck in the applicator, use a pin to dislodge it.

Creating beautiful patterns

If you’re looking to create specific patterns on the fabric, you can use wash-away markers. These allow you to mark where each crystal needs to go. Once you’ve applied the crystals, you can then wash the fabric to eliminate the markers.

When washing fabric embellished with Swarovski hotfix crystals, you’ll need to ensure you’re washing them on a gentle cycle. Treat them as you would any item of delicate clothing.

Where can I buy Swarovski Hotfix crystals?

After the company’s 2020 policy change, Swarovski has concentrated its sales on a network of authorised partners, who are trusted to maintain the high quality and reputation of Swarovski products. These partners, like us at Bluestreak Crystals, provide  Swarovski flat back crystals in bulk, in a wide variety of colours, sizes and styles. When looking to buy Swarovski crystals online, we highly recommend only purchasing through an authorised partner like us - this guarantees that you’ll receive authentic Swarovski crystals, so you can be sure that you’re getting the highest possible quality rhinestones for your clothes. 

The bottom line

Overall, adding Swarovski crystals to clothing couldn’t be simpler - just make sure to buy from an official Swarovski partner. Buying crystals from unauthorised partners - or sites such as eBay or Amazon - could mean that you end up furnishing your clothes with non-durable, flimsy rhinestones that lack the signature Swarovski sparkle. 

As an authorised Swarovski partner, we are committed to offering you genuine Swarovski products, allowing you to let your creativity shine with the confidence that you are using the very best. Happy crafting!

Check out our most popular Swarovski Hotfix Flatback Crystals