Embroider Free Standing Lace
Here are a few tips and hints on how to embroider Fsl designs; use a non woven dissoluble stabilizer. Ordinarily one to two layers works well. Use two layers for more dense designs, or designs that have satin stitching in them; the density of satin stitching will tear a particular layer very easily.
The stabilizer should be hooped taut but not drum tight. Both upper thread and bobbin should be the same embroidery thread; this will give a better quit to your design.
When you have concluded stitching out your design, trim away the excess stabilizer colse to the design. It is preferable to leave a wee edge of the stabilizer colse to the design. Then soak in warm water for a few seconds. Make sure you also trim away any loose threads, both on top of the embroidery and on the underside. As they will ruin the look of the concluded piece. How long you soak for is a personal preference and with touch you will know and also what the concluded description is to be used for.
Pat dry with a towel and lay flat to dry. Also you can use Styrofoam and the long sewing pins to secure the shape. For boxes I cut a plastic template out of plastic canvas the sizes that I want when finished. I use these as guides to pin the project to the Styrofoam. I stretch to the definite size so they will be uniform and sew together well.
Now if you think your project is too stiff (as when production a collar, baby items, etc.) - then soak again in fabric softener and water. Ordinarily after motor washing, it gets softer but you still do not want to give a gift for a baby that is way too stiff.
Use the same Embroidery thread in both the top and in the bobbin when sewing, bring your bobbin thread up to the top of the stabilizer before you begin by turning your motor wheel by hand. This will help those first stitches catch and the excess thread will not tangle with the stitches below. Cut the excess thread after taking a few stitches.
Sew pieces of Fsl (as doily segments) together with a zigzag stitch. There is a combine of ways to do this. You can fold two pieces right sides together. Do a wider zigzag along the side. Try to miss hitting inside the satin stitching and then open them up. Or butt two edges together on top of a strip of Vilene wss. Pin them to the Vilene wss to keep them in place and then zigzag on top of them down the middle.
Now sit back and enjoy your masterpiece.
