How to bedazzle jeans and denim jackets

What to know first

Denim is thick, tightly woven cotton, so it takes hotfix better than almost anything, and it is one of the few fabrics where prong-set studs make sense. The catch is the way jeans are worn: knees, seat, pocket edges and the waistband fold take constant bending and rubbing, and that is where stones are lost. Designs on pockets, back yokes, side seams, jacket backs and collars last far longer.

What you need

• Hotfix applicator with SS10, SS16 and SS20 tips
• Glass hotfix rhinestones
• Tailor’s chalk
• Card or board to slide inside the leg or jacket

Step by step

1. Wash and dry the denim without fabric softener.
2. Chalk the design; for jackets, centre it on the back yoke or across the shoulders.
3. Slide a board inside so you don’t bond through two layers.
4. Apply outlines first with the larger stones, then fill.
5. Let the piece cool flat, then check each stone with a fingernail.
6. Wait about 24 hours before washing inside out, cool and gentle; air dry.

Avoid

• Knees, seat and waistband folds
• Distressed or ripped areas, where fibers are loose
• Stretch denim with high elastane content without a heat test