Layered Lace Ornaments

Machine embroidered freestanding lace is truly magical – just stitch onto water-soluble stabilizer, then rinse the stabilizer away to leave only the stitches. Bring a bit of this magic to your Christmas tree with specially digitized designs! Layered lace brings depth and color to these special ornaments. Follow our step-by-step instructions to craft your own!

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies

To create your layered lace ornaments, you will need:

Layered lace ornament machine embroidery design – we're using Layered Snowflake (Lace)
Ribbon
Heavy water soluble stabilizer, such as Vilene or Sulky Ultra Solvy
Hand sewing needle
Thread for embroidery
Thread snips or scissors

The design featured in this tutorial is:

Layered Snowflake (Lace)

Gather Materials:

For this project I am using a design that has a total of 3 files. Each segment of the design are labeled "a", "b" and "c". Begin by loading the part "a" of the design onto the embroidery machine. Be sure to match the bobbin to the top thread being used to sew the embroidery design. (Here's more on stitching freestanding lace.)

Close-up of a sewing machine bobbin case with a gold metallic thread wound on a clear plastic bobbin, set on a white machine surface.

Start Embroidering:

Hoop a piece of heavy water soluble stabilizer, firmly. Make sure that it is nice and tight, with no wrinkles. Vilene is being used for this demonstration.

Embroidery hoop securing white fabric with a faint lined grid, placed on a wooden surface. No embroidery visible yet.

Attach the hoop to the machine and begin sewing the embroidery design. Repeat the previous steps when sewing parts "b" and "c" of the design.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching clear plastic with a loop shape on a fabric beneath the needle, with a slightly blurred background.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer.

Three lace ornaments in star and hexagon shapes with intricate embroidery in white, gold, and gray thread, placed on a wood surface.

Follow the instructions on your water soluble stabilizer's packaging to remove the excess stabilizer. For Vilene, soak the lace pieces in water for a few moments.

Close-up of a hand holding a white lace ornament with floral patterns over a textured, circular, beige and gold-striped surface.

Allow the lace to air dry, then press with a pressing cloth on top.

Three lace snowflake ornaments in gold, silver, and gray on white textured paper towel over a wooden surface.

To turn this beautiful lace into an ornament, cut a 9 to 11 inch piece of ribbon (1/8" wide).

Hand holding a white lace cross ornament being threaded with a white ribbon on a wooden surface. The lace has floral and geometric patterns.

Place the ribbon ends in the center of lace piece "a" and stitch them in place. Make sure you thread matches the embroidery design.

Close-up of a white lace ornament sewn on a sewing machine, featuring intricate scroll patterns and multiple diamond-shaped segments arranged in a cross-like shape.

Place the center of lace piece "b" over the center of lace piece "a" and stitch the two pieces together. Make sure you thread matches the embroidery design.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle stitching a layered lace ornament made of overlapping squares with intricate patterns in white and gold thread on a white base.

Finally, lay the last piece of lace ("c") over the center of the lace piece "b" and stitch down. Make sure your top thread matches piece "c" and that the bobbin thread matches lace piece "a".

Flat lace ornament with a star-shaped gray center, surrounded by six white diamond shapes with swirling patterns and golden leaf details, on a wood surface.

Get Inspired:

Congratulations! You've created an elegant and dazzling holiday ornament!