YOW! Advent calendar – door number 17
Oh, how lovely, oh, how fitting, heart-warming, so to speak…
Textiles featuring rhinestone appliqués aren’t just eye-catchers at Christmas!
- Design the desired pattern on your computer using circles of the appropriate size (rhinestone diameter + approx. 0.5 mm) and plot it onto thick adhesive film (rhinestone film) using a cutting plotter.
- Weed the plotted film. If not all the ‘circles’ stick to the silicone backing straight away, simply stick the film face-up onto a piece of adhesive film and then peel it off carefully – all the elements should now remain on the backing and the stencil film is ready.
- Stick the plotted stencil onto a sturdy base (in our case, a scrap piece of acrylic glass).
- Pour a generous amount of the desired rhinestones onto the stencil and sweep them into the recesses with a soft brush. The rhinestones will very quickly settle in the correct alignment, and any excess stones can be removed with the brush.
- Cover the rhinestones with heat-resistant transfer film and press down firmly.
- Heat a transfer press to approx. 160°C and place a piece of fabric inside.
- Carefully peel the rhinestone design off the stencil and place it onto the fabric.
- Press for approx. 20 seconds; once the fabric has cooled, peel off the transfer film – and you’re done.
