Learning how to attach rhinestones to leotards will save you a lot of money and creates a tremendous amount of satisfaction as you see your creations sparkling on stage. Here are some tips and basic techniques to get you started on how to attach rhinestones and the best glue to use for rhinestones on fabric.

How to Attach Rhinestones Tutorial
If you have ever watched any dance, skating, or gymnastics competitions, you would have been blinded by the vast array of beautifully decorated and stoned leotards on display. Some of these costumes can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and can take weeks to make.
Types of Rhinestones
Swarovski: These stones are made of crystal and are in a class of their own as they have an unbeatable quality. Naturally, they are also the most expensive. There are a lot of fake Swarovski on the internet so if you are paying top dollar then make sure you purchase from a genuine supplier.
Crystal Rhinestones: You can find many crystal rhinestones of great quality that are a bit cheaper than Swarovski. One of the most common brands is Czech Preciosa.
Glass Rhinestones: These are made of glass and are a medium quality rhinestone.
Acrylic Rhinestones: These are the cheapest but lowest quality. Because they are made from a plastic substance, they can scratch easily over time and once dirty, they have very little sparkle left. Before you use acrylic rhinestones, make sure you do a test to ensure the foil at the back of the stones is not affected by the glue you are using.
TIP: Mix featured Swarovski rhinestones with cheaper brands to reduce overall costs
Rhinestone Shapes
The basic shapes your rhinestones will come in are round, square, rectangle, pear (sometimes called tear shape), heart and oval. There are endless cuts and variations of these and new styles and trends will continue to evolve.
In addition to the different shapes, rhinestones are classified by the shape of their back.
Rhinestone Back Types
- Flatback Rhinestones: When attaching rhinestones to clothing you will need those with a flat back. The flat back usually has a silver foil lining to add extra sparkle.
- Pointed Back: Rhinestones with a pointy back are more suited to jewelry applications.
- Claws: You can also get rhinestones mounted in a claw setting. These are often larger stones. Only use good quality claw settings as cheaper ones often have the stones fall out and the rough edges can get caught on delicate fabrics. You don't want to spend hours sewing an outfit and decorating it only to have the stones catch and fall out.
Rhinestone Finishes and Effects
These are some of the most common finishes you will see. Most companies follow Swarovski in the naming of their finishes.
- Clear - As the name implies clear rhinestones do not have any coating on them and are clear and sparkly.
- AB Finish - This is a coating applied to the rhinestone that gives a rainbow or oil-slick appearance to the stone.
- Opaque - These rhinestones have a milky appearance and the aqua ones are one of my favorite stones.
- Metallic- Modern crystals are often available with a metallic effect. Beware of metallic rhinestones made of acrylic as the finish often scratches off.
Rhinestones Sizing
Rhinestones are generally measured in millimeters. Round rhinestones additionally are referred to by SS which stands for "stone size" and range from 5SS (1.8mm) to 48SS (11mm).
The image below shows you the relative sizes of some of these. Most companies offer many in-between sizes as well.
Unless you have amazing eyesight and dexterity, I wouldn't recommend going under the 20ss size.
How to Attach Rhinestones on Clothes
Rhinestones used for clothing and leotards usually have a flat back that is foiled in silver. They can have glue already applied (hotfix), non-hotfix, or holes for sewing.
There are 3 main ways to attach rhinestones
- Glue
- Hotfix Applicators
- Sewing
Gluing - Best Glue for Rhinestones on Fabric
One of the most popular methods for attaching rhinestones is to glue them on. Imagine having to sew thousands of tiny rhinestones on a costume! If you use the correct glue adhesive and technique, they are amazingly strong when glued on. It is also next to impossible to sew rhinestones on thin or mesh fabric, so glue is often your best option.
The best glue for rhinestones on fabric is clear, washable, and easy to use. These are the 3 most used brands:
1. E6000 Glue
This is the glue that most costume makers use.
- Make sure you purchase a clear variety.
- When gluing small stones try to get some precision tips. Glue often gets on the tips of tweezers making them hard to use.
- Believe it or not, there are fakes of this glue on the market, so purchase from a reputable dealer.
2. E6000 Fabri-Fuse
This glue is created by the same company as the regular E6000 glue but is specially designed for gluing on fabric and is washable after 3 days. Make sure you let your garment dry flat for at least 8 hours before you try the garment on.
Although it looks a little cloudy when it comes out, it will dry clear. The manufacturer says dry cleaning won't affect the glue.
3. Beacon Gem-Tac
This glue is specially made for gluing gemstones and rhinestones and has a good reputation. It dries clear and is washable.
The manufacturer says that the bond is made stronger by the heat of a dryer but I'll leave that to you to test! I wouldn't put any leotards in the dryer as the Lycra fabric is likely to be negatively affected by the heat.
Extra Tips for Gluing Rhinestones
- Most glues have bad fumes so you will need to use them in a well-ventilated area.
- Store bottles or tubes upside down so the glue is in the nozzle ready for next use.
- You can transfer glue into a syringe with a small nozzle to make it easier to handle and keep fumes to a minimum. These are called hobby syringes and come with different-sized nozzles. Look for ones made for gluing rhinestones.
- Alternately, put a small amount of glue on some cardboard and dip it in a skewer. Then pick up the stones with the skewer.
- Dry the glued garment flat so the stones don't slip before they are dry.
- Use foam board or strong cardboard inside the garment to hold it flat for stoning and to prevent the glue from going through to the other side of the garment.
- For stretch fabrics, don't have stones touching as it will affect the stretch of the garment around the body. This is especially important for leotards.
- Practice on a scrap before you start gluing your garment. The glue should just cover the outside edges of the stone. If you just place a small drop underneath, the foil may detach, leaving a round metal dot. It takes a bit of practice to get the amount of glue correct.
- Always check the glue drying time before washing or wearing the item.
Hotfix Stones and Applicator
Hotfix rhinestones have glue already attached to the back and are applied with a special tool or regular iron.
A regular iron can be used to melt and attach the glue on the back of hotfix stones where your fabric is made of natural fibers and won't melt. You will still need to put a pressing cloth between your stones and the garment. This method is not suitable for Lycra fabrics in leotards and other synthetic materials.
Electric hotfix applicators (sometimes called heat guns) come with different-sized tips which fit over the stone and heat up the glue underneath. It usually only takes 15-20 seconds to attach each stone. Be careful not to touch the tip on delicate fabrics.
Like the regular glue methods, make sure you put a piece of cardboard or foam between the layers of your garment.
If you are buying online, make sure it has the correct voltage for your country.
How to Attach Rhinestones with Sewing
Some rhinestones have holes for sewing. This is obviously the most time-consuming method of attaching the stones and is not recommended for small stones or delicate fabrics.
Sewn rhinestones can be mixed with sequins and beads for maximum impact. (Read how to sew sequins)
Tips for Sewing Rhinestones
- Use a strong beading thread
- Knot off in between each bead so you don't have rows coming undone at once.
- Sit in great light and grab your strong glasses!
- A craft magnifying light may also help,
Storing your Rhinestones
Lastly, after learning how to attach rhinestones, you will need to store all your rhinestones. Choose clear containers so you can easily see the contents and how many stones you have left.
- Bead storage boxes
- Zip-lock bags
More Embellishment Articles
Now you know how to attach rhinestones, here are a few more embellishment methods you can use. Sequins can be used in conjunction with rhinestones for a stunning effect.
- How to Sew Sequins
- Sewing Lace
- Sewing Ruching
- How to Sew Lace Trim
- Sewing Ric Rac
- Fabric Painting
- Fabric Manipulation
- How to Make Tassels | 2 BEST Ways to DIY Tassels
- How to Attach Rhinestones: Best Glue for Rhinestones on Fabric
- Pintuck | How to Sew a Pintuck Easily
- How to Fray Fabric
- How to Sew Lace Trim
- Applique
- Reverse Applique
Treasurie
Hi Andie, Swarovski is definitely the best by a long way. Try Aliexpress- some of the sellers categorize the quality of their crystals.
Andie
Every time I try to find a good glass rhinestone, not crystal rhinestone like Swarovski or Presioca. Glass cute rhinestones are obviously cost effective but they always have this t thin gold plating over it and it’s more of a golden yellow hue like on the AB’s that make it look mostly green or dingy and cheap, Presioca and Swarovski, they have a silvery platinum plating over there crystals, does anyone know of a good brand that has the same silvery plating?!??
Treasurie
Hi Tiffany, I would use felt. It is cheap and easy to glue rhinestones on. Felt has a bit of body so your tiara would stand up nicely. Good luck!
Tiffany
Hi! What fabric would you recommend for making a cloth tiara? I want to glue old jewelry to cloth then connect to elastic band. Thank you!
Treasurie
Sorry Kellee, Your local hardware store should be able to help you with glue for metal bonding. I imagine it will be the heat that will cause a problem with most rhinestones as it will melt the film on the back.
Kellee Flynn
I'm looking for a glue that is heat resistant but bonds to metal. I'm putting them on a motorcycle. Will this glue work for me?
Treasurie
Suede has a rough surface so it is harder for the stones to stay on. Instead of a sealant I would remove any loose stones and use a strong glue to put them back on. A sealant will make the stones cloudy.
Gayle
I'm looking for a glue sealant.... I purchase faux suede that already have rhinestones on it, periodically they fall off, so I want to paint/seal the cord before I make the bracelet. Any questions for products that can help.
Treasurie
Hi Heather, You will need to experiment with plastic tumblers. Obviously they will have much more wear than a leotard or dress and will need to be able to be washed frequently. It is nearly impossible to get glue off stones so you really need to be careful putting them on with tweezers. Using a finish on top will dull the stones so you need to find a strong glue that will not come off.
Heather
How do you get the glue off the front of the stones? I'm looking to start bringing plastic tumblers for a hobby. Are the glues you mentioned good for that as well? I don't know if I can put a finish over top once I'm done so the stones have less of a chance of falling off. Also I am thinking the 30 as or 34 as. I don't want to use the big ones. I like the look of the smaller ones although I'm sure it would be easier to start off with. Thank you!
Nannymed.Com
Hi Jim I don t know of any adhesive that you heat up aside from hotfix glue sticks, which would be very messy as you would have to melt the glue to get it on the back of the crystal and then re-melt it to attach the crystals to a surface. Hotfix crystals have a foil backing and then a primer layer which bonds the un-melted hotfix glue to the foil backing. I need the strongest glue on the world. Waterproof and very very strong for put crystals on shoes. Which is the best of Gem Tac Glue, E6000, GS Hypo Cement, Beacon 527? And also what type of crystals do you recommend for shoes. Clear, AB,..
Treasurie
Hi Christina, I would guess it is the humidity. Try a different glue. You have probably been using the same one for years but perhaps a different glue would hold up better with humidity. A bit of trial and error I'm afraid. If the stones themselves are tarnishing you may also need to use different brands or higher grades and store them in airtight containers before they are used. Good luck with your leotards.
Christina
Hi, I've been stoning leotards for several years. Last year I moved to a tropical climate and my stones now peel off the fabric and sometimes tarnish too. Could this be the weather? Thanks in advance.
Treasurie
Hi, if you want generic branded stones, Allied Express has a lot of stones. A lot of manufacturers grade them so look for A grade. For Swarovski, google your local suppliers. Most costumers use a mixture of brands to keep cost down. Those glues mentioned in the article are fairly common. Haberdashery and craft stores often carry them. My local hardware store has them too. Thanks for reading.
OLAYINKA
Thank you for the detailed lecture.
Can you suggest lists of suppliers where i can get original rhinestones and glue?
Thank you.