3D Fabric Flower

A 3D freestanding flower with a freestanding lace center provides the perfect opportunity for embellishing your projects. Our step-by-step tutorial will show you how to stitch and assemble this type of machine embroidery design.

When you download a 3D flower design you will find multiple file types. Most are freestanding fabric embroidery files, one is a freestanding lace file, and one is a dieline file that will be used to cut out a felt piece. The freestanding petal embroidery files have been specifically digitized to sew on fabric hooped with a piece of water-soluble stabilizer. After the excess fabric is cut away and the stabilizer is removed, beautiful embroidery and fabric remains.

There are a couple different kinds of water-soluble stabilizer. One is clear and plastic, and that brand is Sulky Ultra Solvy. The other is soft and fibrous, called Vilene. Both work well. Vilene is used in this demonstration.

Use a size 11 or a 75/11 sharp sewing needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle. That means it will make smaller holes in the stabilizer.

Cut a piece of both fabric and water-soluble stabilizer that are larger than the embroidery hoop. Spray the water-soluble stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the piece of fabric on top of it. We are using organza for this demonstration, but lightweight cotton, or another fabric can be used as well.

Hoop the fabric and water-soluble stabilizer together firmly. Make sure it is nice and taut with no wrinkles.

As the petals will be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin to match every thread color used in the design.

Follow the color change sheet to embroider all of the organza petal files. If the design has more than one color, continue to match all bobbins and embroider the remaining details. For embroidering the lace center, see the lace steps below.

Once all the embroidery is finished, unhoop the fabric design, and carefully cut around the outer edges of the petal. Cut as close to the embroidery as you are comfortable, but make sure not to cut into the embroidery. If you accidentally cut the embroidery, using a small amount of clear fabric glue can help adhere the stitching in place so it does not unravel.

The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the remaining water-soluble stabilizer. For Vilene, soak the embroidered design in water for a few hours.

Allow the piece to air dry. If needed, press the design with a pressing cloth on top to remove any wrinkles in the fabric.

Repeat to embroider all of the petals for the flower. In this example we embroidered three of each size of petal, but these floral designs are flexible and can be made with as many petals desired. Some embroidery files may have multiple petals in one file if they fit together in the hoop (such as file C for the peony design).

Freestanding lace designs have been specially digitized for watersoluble stabilizer. After the stabilizer is removed, beautiful embroidery remains.

To stitch the freestanding lace center for the peony, hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

As the freestanding lace will be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin to match every thread color used in the design.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the lace embroidery file. Embroider the first piece using a matching bobbin.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer. The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the remaining stabilizer that can't be trimmed away. For Vilene, soak the embroidered lace in water for a few hours. The longer you soak the lace piece, the more flexible and easier the it will be to sew through.

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

To be assembled, your flower will need a felt circle where all pieces can attach. This circle can be drawn and cut by hand (the small peony size needs a 1" diameter circle; the large size needs a 1.5" diameter circle), or you can use the included dielines files to cut the circle. Dieline files are marked with the letters "DL", and are used to cut fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print the dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, cut the circle by hand.

Once the dieline is printed, cut around it and use temporary adhesive to adhere it to one side of the felt piece.

Then cut out the felt circle using the dieline. If preferred, this circle can be cut by hand like we stated earlier. Simply use a compass or freehand a circle onto the felt with a fabric marking tool. It does not need to be perfect as it will be covered by the petals and lace center after assembly.

To make the petals have a natural "ruffled" and textured look, hand sew a wide gathering stitch along the bottom edge of the petal. The bottom edge is the edge opposite the most squiggly side of each petal piece. Use thread matching the fabric color for best results.

Then pull the gathering stitch to scrunch and ruffle the petal. Tie a knot to secure it in place. The amount the petal is gathered can vary as desired.

Then repeat to gather all of the petals being used to make the flower. Each petal does not need to be gathered the same amount. The amount of gathering can be varied across the petals to give the flower a natural look, but don't skip gathering any petals as they will look very flat.

In this tutorial we will be hand sewing the flower together for control, and to prevent glue from being seen through the sheer petals. Use thread matching the fabric color for best results.

If preferred, the flower can also be glued together using a fabric or hot glue. Simply add the petals in the same order as seen below, but use glue instead.

The flower will look best if the petals are added onto the felt circle in order from largest to smallest. It is also best to start placing them along the outer edge, slowly working your way inward toward the center of the circle. It is also important to leave room in the center of the felt piece for the freestanding lace center. That way it will not crush or flatten the petals when you add it last. To begin, take one of the largest petals and secure it in place along the outer edge of the circle.

Then repeat to adhere a second largest petal along the outer edge of the felt circle. Keep in mind the number of petals you are using for each size, and position the petals with enough space in between to fill out flower as needed.

Continue to adhere all the largest petals in place, so they are evenly spaced or positioned as desired around the outer edge of the felt circle.

Next, secure one of the second largest petals onto the felt circle. Having it overlap and sit in between the larger petals will help give the flower a more natural look. Try and position the petal close to the outer edge of the felt circle so you leave room for the lace center in the end.

Then repeat to secure all of the second largest petals onto the felt circle. Overlap as desired, and keep

them as near the outer edge of he felt circle as possible to leave room for the lace center.

Repeat to secure all the second smallest petals onto the felt circle. Overlap as desired, and keep them as near the outer edge of he felt circle as possible to leave room for the lace center.

Finally, repeat to secure all the smallest petals onto the felt circle. Overlap as desired, and keep them as near the outer edge of he felt circle as possible to leave room for the lace center.

Last but not least, hand sew or glue the lace flower center in place in the middle of all the petals on the felt circle. If hand sewing, use the same thread as was used to embroider the lace, and hand sew in the same direction as the stitching to make the hand sewing nearly disappear.

Now that your 3D fabric flower is done, you can use to embellish shirts, purses, headbands, and more. You can even turn it into a hair clip for a fun and unique style.