How to bedazzle a T-shirt

What to know first

Cotton takes hotfix well, but jersey stretches, and a stone sitting on a stretch point pops when the shirt is pulled over a head. Designs sit best across the chest and upper back, clear of the neckline and side seams. Big designs are also where a wand becomes painfully slow, which is why transfers exist.

What you need

• Hotfix applicator, or a mini heat press or iron
• Glass hotfix rhinestones SS10–SS16, or a ready-made transfer
• Card to slide inside
• Tailor’s chalk or a printed template

Step by step

1. Pre-wash the shirt without softener and iron it flat.
2. Slide card inside so the front and back can’t bond.
3. Mark the center line; most chest designs start about three fingers below the neckline.
4. Press a transfer according to its sheet, or place stones with the wand.
5. Let it cool completely before peeling any transfer tape.
6. Press briefly from the inside to set the stones further.
7. Wait about 24 hours, then wash inside out, cool and gentle.

Avoid

• The neckline and side seams
• Thin, very stretchy jersey without a test
• Tumble drying