Temporary applique

[andye]

OK this is a bit counter intuitive but I want to ask if anybody has experimented with temporary applique?

That is using a non -permanent adhesive and apply and applique design?

The reason I ask is there is an event scheduled in May with a dress code encouraged.

SPANK! Doctors and Nurses in Melbourne Australia. (It's been submitted to the events calendar)

Anyway my wife has a nice white long sleeve latex top. I was wondering about temporarily applying a green cross (like the 'Red Cross' cross) to the front to more accord with the theme.

Thoughts, advice and warnings appreciated.

[Glaftex]

Easily achieved with quite good effect. Go to Bunnings and in their electrical section they sell electrician's tape in a wide range of colours including green. Buy the Nitto brand if possible as the other is crap. You may have to put parallel lines of tape to get the cross to be as wide as you like.
I suggest you try the tape in a part of the garment not highly visible, just to check its adhesive strength, and ease of detachment and to see is there is any residual evidence of its presence after removal. I am quite confident that it will do the job admirably and not do any harm to the garment, as I use it regularly with no ill effect, but you should verify this for yourself.
Carefully applied to a clean latex surface it will not come off of its own accord, but do not leave it on the garment for more time than is required as it will tend to bond very strongly with time. Don't put the garment away after the event for a few weeks without first removing the tape.
Let's know how you go.

Glaftex

[Gia Gloveliczyk]

Maybe try something light like a surgical adhesive that is made from latex. In the UK it is called Duo surgical adhesive and is commonly also used to apply fake eyelashes.

[Nyckname]

Get a bunch of those small, really strong magnets. Run a line of them around the border of the cross. Lay the cross on a table. Put the dress on top. Throw a handful more of the magnets inside the dress. Run them around with your hand until they've all stuck to one on the cross.

[Zennor]

Get a bunch of those small, really strong magnets. Run a line of them around the border of the cross. Lay the cross on a table. Put the dress on top. Throw a handful more of the magnets inside the dress. Run them around with your hand until they've all stuck to one on the cross.

Not sure the magnets are such a good idea. Magnets are steel which without being coated could well lead to staining of the latex. In this case the garment is white and particularly susceptible to this.
So I think even if it were actually a workable solution the possibility of staining is a danger best avoided.

[Nyckname]

So coat them in something.

[Gia Gloveliczyk]

Also might want to look at something like Copydex. That should come off easily enough if you just apply it to the applique.

[n3m3515]

Make and cut out the applique and apply the adhesive to the applique only.
I use BestTest (in the states) and if you only use adhesive on one piece and brayer it on, it
should stay on for a good length of time, but will be removable, yet still flexible.
I actually have used this method to apply bound hems on garments.
I'd apply the adhesive to the hemming strip and affix it to the garment.
It will actually stay on through a washing, but CAN be removed without destroying the
garment surface underneath. I tried it once when I got sick of screwing up the hem on an otherwise
perfect garment and either ripped or ruined the garment trying to remove/fix it.
This would also allow flexibility on the applique.
I think flexibility would be a problem with electrical tape, as Glaftex suggested.
The latex would stretch (depending on how tight the shirt is) and the tape would not.
Also some electrical tapes I have used for other things sometimes leave a gummy residue.
Cleanable, but still a residue.

I also do not thin the BestTest at all with heptane when doing this.
Just use it straight out of the can, let it dry, clean the place it is going to be
affixed to with heptane, let the heptane dry, stick it on and brayer away.
If placement is off, carefully pull it off and reattach it (if you can get it off without sticking to itself).
Try it on a "hidden" place of the garment first to make sure it will work for you though.

N3M3515

[Gia Gloveliczyk]

Andy, what technique did you go for in the end and how did it work out for you?

[andye]

There's a very sad coda to this request.

See this post in Stains and Discolourations

Not as a direct result of this request but sad nonetheless.

Having done the damage though, I guess I can use the opportunity to experiment with the suggestions.

I'm going to try Glaftex's suggestion first and see how that goes.

Let you know.