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FSL Battenberg Lace Tiara for a Girl and her Doll

These are instructions on how to embroider and assemble the FSL Battenberg Lace Tiara design.

To embroider this type of lace, please read our recommendations first.

Stabilizers: We recommend to use water-soluble mesh, such as Vilene. Vilene D0102 is a non woven dissolvable stabilizer which is imported into the US, is sold in large rolls and is sometimes repackaged under different brand names. Two of these brand names are Wash-Away and Aqua Magic.

Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy, are not suitable for Free-Standing Lace embroidery.

Threads: The thinner the thread, the finer the final product will be. That is why we recommend that at least one of the threads, either in the bobbin or in the needle, should be cotton, which gives bulk to the lace and makes it look hand-made. Embroidery polyester thread will make very fine web-like lace.

Embroidery rayon thread is too soft, it does not keep its shape and very often its color fades under the influence of chemicals from the water-soluble mesh.

If you are using 50- or 60-weight cotton, you can use it both in the bobbin and in the needle. If you use 40-weight cotton thread for the needle, you can use regular polyester bobbin thread.

We used Signature machine quilting cotton thread, but similar threads from other companies should work just as well.

Needles: We use size 80/12 embroidery needles and 80/12 metallic needles. Our experience shows that cotton thread used with metallic needles gives less lint. The needles should be sharp, so it's advisable to change them after every project.

Most Importantly: ALWAYS make a test stitch-out of the design and wash away the stabilizer. This helps you to select the threads, needles, stabilizers and settings of your machine correctly. DO NOT embroider several designs in one hoop.

Making the Tiara

Besides watersoluble mesh and embroidery threads you will need a narrow plastic headband and universal glue for the girl's tiara and headpins for the doll's tiara.

You might also like to use crystals, seed beads, rhinestones or other small embellishments on your project.

Step One: Embroider both files once each. To get 2-sided embroidery, use the same thread both in the needle and in the bobbin.

Rinze the stabilizer and leave the embroidery to air dry.

Step Two: Press, if needed, and attach all the embellishments you want.

Step Three: Place a small amount of glue on a plastic headband. Glue on the girl's tiara.