Special notes: For best results, hand sew the skull together. If you prefer, you may also use a hot glue gun or fabric glue to assemble, but be sure to hold each glued section in place until its completely dry to prevent it from coming apart.

When sewing or gluing the darts of the 3D Lace Skull, make sure to read the directions and pay attention to which way the darts supposed to point. Some will be pointed inwards (having been sewn or glued with the right sides of the lace together), and some will be pointed outwards (having been sewn or glued with the wrong sides of the lace together). The direction of the darts is very important in creating the shape of the lace skull.

Begin by stitching the ten pieces of freestanding lace onto heavy duty water-soluble stabilizer using combination 40 wt. rayon thread for best results. Once you're done stitching, rinse and dry each piece completely. (Here's more on stitching freestanding lace).

First take the left front piece of the face (piece A), and locate the V-shaped dart by the nose of the skull. Fold the lace piece with rights sides together along the dart, and line up the two short edges.

Using a hand sewing needle, stitch the two edges together to close the dart.

Next find the dart by the teeth. Fold the lace piece with the wrong sides of the lace touching...

...and hand sew along the edges to close the dart.

Then locate the two darts along the cheek bone. For both darts fold the lace so that the wrong sides of the lace are touching.

Use a hand sewing needle to sew along the edges, and close each dart.

Locate the last dart on the round section of the left front piece. With the right sides of the lace touching, fold the lace piece and line up the edges.

Hand sew the dart closed.

By the last dart, a curved channel has been left open in the swirling design to create a natural fold.

Carefully fold the lace piece along the channel with the wrong sides of the lace touching.

Lightly pinch along the channel and edges to crease the fold.

Repeat the previous steps to sew all the darts and crease the fold on the opposite right front piece of the face (piece B).

Next find the left back piece of the skull (piece C).

Hand sew each of the three triangle darts, making sure to fold the lace with the wrong sides together.

Once all the darts are sewn on piece C, take piece A (the left front of the face), and match up the small straight sections on either piece. Hand sew them together with the right sides touching.

The small section on the front piece is located on top of the narrow section above the nose dart. The small section on the back piece is located near the smallest dart.

Then locate the round area of the front piece and the cut out round section on the back of the skull.

Match up the two corners shown, and fit the two round sections together.

Using a hand sewing needle and thread, sew the two piece together until you get to the sharp point.

Repeat the previous steps to sew all the darts on the opposite back lace piece (piece D), and attach it to the opposite front piece (Piece B). Then you should have two halves of the skull that are only missing their lower jaw.

Now it's time to sew the two halves of the skull together. With the wrong sides of the two lace halves together, match up the edges from the bottom of the teeth to the point of the nose, and hand sew them together.

Then above the nose, match up the small curved portion.

Start hand sewing at the corner, and continue sewing up along the major curve of the back of the skull until you reach the bottom corner.

Next take the front jaw piece (piece E)...

...and sew the dart closed with the wrong sides of the lace together.

Add the two side jaw pieces to either side (pieces F & G).

Match up the straight edges on either side...

...and make sure to hand sew them with wrong sides touching to give the proper shape to the lower jaw.

Then take the first of the two tiny spacer pieces (pieces I), and line the longer side up with the top edge of the jaw. Match one corner with the point closer to the front, and hand sew along the edges with right sides together.

Then repeat with the other spacer piece (piece J) on the opposite side of the jaw. The spacer pieces I & J are identical and symmetrical, so it's okay if they get mixed up.

Now take the assembled top of the skull, and the assembled lower jaw, and match up the front center seam and dart of the two pieces. Carefully sew the two sections together, matching up seams to darts as you go along.

Only sew to the top point by the teeth of the lower jaw piece on either side, leaving the two sections un connected after that.

Grab the base of the skull (piece H), and match up the center of the more curved end with the center of the front jaw piece.

Then hand sew the edges together down either side until you get to the back point of the jaw.

Once the front half of the base piece is attached, locate one spacer piece, and match it up to the shown point on the cheekbone of the skull, with wrong sides together.

Hand sew along the length of the spacer to connect the two pieces. Then repeat for the opposite side.

These tiny spaces hold the lower jaw in place behind and away from the inside of the cheek bone.

Finally, match up the pointed edge of the base piece to the point at the center back of the skull.

Hand sew the edges of the skull and the base together on both sides until you get to the corner.

When storing your 3D lace skull, it is best to fill it with tissues or paper towels. This will help the lace retain its shape, and prevent it from being crushed.

And your skull is complete! Let this unique design lurk in your home for Halloween.