Stoning costumes

[hopskipjump]

Need to stone dd's artistic costume and not sure which glue to get.  I have used E-6000 with great results but Gem-Tac is less carcinogenic.  What do you use?

[Sk8tmum]

hotfix is my choice always.

[Skittl1321]

I love E6000- lasts through many many machine washings.

[sarahspins]

I just got a different one from rhinestone supply called liquid fusion.  It's really runny and takes 2-4 hours to dry so I have my doubts about how easy it will be to work with, but once I try it (which may not be soon) I can update.

[hopskipjump]

I bought the gem tac, but I'm reading ti doesn't dry as quickly.  I'd like to get it done in two sittings (front and then back) so I might return it and get the E.  The plus for gem tac is that I'm reading it doesn't get stringy.  I have to say, this is my favorite part of the costuming process!!!!  I love planning the stones.   

[Kim to the Max]

I use either the E-6000 or hotfix. I find those are the easiest to work with.

Good luck!!

[PinkLaces]

I just give them to my DD's coach - who stones dresses in her free time for fun.   

[AgnesNitt]

I just give them to my DD's coach - who stones dresses in her free time for fun.   

Either that, or it's a glue high she's after. 

[JSM]

I've only used hotfix; for those that have used hotfix vs glue, do you find that you prefer one over the other?

[Skittl1321]

I prefer glue. With hot fix only the back of the stone gets glued, and sometimes they seperate from the backing.  With glue you can catch the side of the stone too

[PinkLaces]

Either that, or it's a glue high she's after. 

It could be the glue high - just got a dress back from her with 1400 stones (she was sure to tell me how many).  It's beautiful though. 

[hopskipjump]

Hot fix I have done, but they didn't stay on as well as with glue.  Plus they cost more.  And I can't get them locally.  I try hard to support local shops. 

[Sk8tmum]

I prefer glue. With hot fix only the back of the stone gets glued, and sometimes they seperate from the backing.  With glue you can catch the side of the stone too

I've done dozens of dresses with hotfix ... handwash them, throw them in skate bags ... a few that are over 8 years old are now being used by our youngest, and never lost a stone. With glue, maybe because I'm uncoordinated, I get frustrated with "glue leak" around the stones, and I'm always terrified about dropping bits of glue on the material, and they sometimes slide from where I put them ... the hotfix ones go down soooo easy, and they hold forever. It could be because I do a two-step process with them: they get hotfixed, them I put a pressing cloth over them and "iron" them to double-set the glue.  

Then again, I also like sewing on big rhinestones - that's my favorite way to put them on - done some dresses with 1-inch rivolis on straps that are sewn on ... those things don't move at all  

In terms of cost - don't have to buy glue, and because I can do them very quickly (over 250 SS30 in an hour) - it saves me valuable time. Plus, I order in bulk, and the cost difference isn't too much from my supplier ... who is local, so I'm lucky there.

[FigureSpins]

I wasn't thrilled with the hotfix application.  I ended up reattaching several stones after a dress rehearsal using glue.  Glue is more reliable, imo.

I have a handful of sew-on rhinestones left from my first real skating dress.  Just haven't reused them, but it's definitely the least-damaging (to the dress) application.  Most time-consuming, though.