How to Make Freestanding Lace With an Embroidery Machine
Freestanding lace made on an embroidery machine makes bookmarks, suncatchers, insets on towels and clothing, potpourri bags, edgings, doilies, ornaments and other decorations. Individual pieces of freestanding lace can even be sewn together to make bowls and vases.
To create freestanding lace, an embroiderer stitches a specially digitized embroidery design directly onto water soluble stabilizer. The stitches overlap and support each other in such a way that when the stabilizer dissolves, a beautiful piece of lace remains. Use metallic or variegated thread or stitch the design on organza or tulle for especially stunning results.
Things You'll Need
- Freestanding lace embroidery design
- Embroidery machine
- Bobbin wound with thread that matches the top thread
- Heavy-weight or woven water-soluble stabilizer
Instructions
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1
Hoop a piece of heavy-weight or woven water-soluble stabilizer securely. The stabilizer should be taut, but be careful not to stretch the stabilizer while hooping. Make sure you are using a sturdy stabilizer that is designed for freestanding lace embroidery.
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2
Wind a bobbin with thread that matches the top thread and load the bobbin in the machine.
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3
Attach the hoop to the embroidery machine and send the design to stitch. Only designs that are specially digitized for freestanding lace embroidery should be used.
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4
Manually lower and raise the needle to bring the bobbin thread to the top of the stabilizer. Hold the ends of the top and bottom thread out of the way and start the machine. After a few stitches have sewn, pause the machine and snip the thread tails. This will keep the thread tails from getting caught up in the embroidery.
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5
Remove the hoop from the machine when the design is complete. Unhoop the stabilizer and cut away the excess to within 1/4 inch of the stitching. Be careful not to cut any stitches.
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6
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to dissolve the stabilizer. This usually involves soaking or rinsing the item in warm water.
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7
Roll the lace in a towel to squeeze out any excess water and lay it flat to dry. The remnants of the stabilizer will act like starch and make the lace dry somewhat stiff.
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8
If you used organza or tulle along with the stabilizer, carefully trim the excess as close to the stitches as possible without cutting any stitches.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the smallest hoop possible and do not try to stitch more than one design in the hoop at a time to avoid stretching and tearing the stabilizer.
If the lace unravels, make sure your stabilizer is hooped securely. You may need to use two pieces of stabilizer or add a piece of organza or tulle to the stabilizer to give the lace extra support.
Save scraps of water-soluble stabilizer to be used as toppers on other projects. Small scraps can also be dissolved to make spray starch.
Use a small sharp needle when embroidering lace.
Adjust the machine's tension so that the top and bottom thread meet in the middle.
Only use stabilizer and designs that are intended for freestanding embroidery.
