Layered Lace

Creating freestanding lace on your embroidery machine is always magical -- and combining layers of lace is a delightful way to create depth and dimension! Assembling these designs is simple -- just embroider each layer separately, then combine using a few hand-stitches. We'll show you how!

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

 When you download the design, you will find multiple embroidery files which contain all of the pieces of the design.

There are a couple of 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 will work very well. Vilene is used in this demonstration.

Use a size 11 or 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.

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

Hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load file "a".

 Follow the color change sheet, and embroider the first color of the design using a matching bobbin.

If the design has multiple thread colors, follow the color change sheet, and embroider the entire design using matching bobbins.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer.

The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the excess. For Vilene, soak the embroidered lace for a few moments.

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

Repeat the steps above to embroider the rest of the lace pieces.

Line up the middle lace piece (file "b") on top of the bottom lace piece (file "a"). Use a hand sewing needle and thread matching the middle piece to tack the two pieces together.

Continue to hand sew the two pieces together in several places, so they are securely attached together.

Repeat to position and hand sew the top lace piece (file "c") on top of the middle lace piece (file "b").