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These are instructions on how to embroider the FSL Battenberg Lace Christmas Tree Vase design and make the vase.
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 packaged 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 the project.
Threads: The thinner the thread, the finer the final product will be. That is why for this project we recommend cotton thread, 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.
To get two-sided embroidery use threads of the same color in the needle and in the bobbin.
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 often.
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.
Besides water-soluble mesh and cotton thread, you will also need a piece of thin plastic, used for making stencil or quilting paterns. You can find it in craft and quilting stores.
We used plastic from a plastic office binder.
A soldering iron or an awl can be helpful, but you can get away with using a #14-16 needle on your sewing machine.
Step One: Open the embroidery file in your embroidery software on the computer and print out the screen shot of the file twice.
Step Two: Embroider the file on 2 layers of watersoluble mesh using cotton threads. Rinse the mesh out in luke warm water. Slightly press the embroidery with the paper towel to remove extra water. Leave the patterns damp.
Step Three: Place the embroidery over the print-outs. Pin the lace over the print-out with many pins so that the edges are closely aligned. Ideally your stitch-out should be of the same size as the print-out. However, it's possible that the lace is a little smaller. Carefully stretch it back to size. Leave to air dry, pinned.
If the lace shrunk significantly, check and correct the following:
a) reduce the tension of the upper thread;
b) use more layers of the watersoluble mesh. You can sandwich scraps of mesh between two whole layers.
c) use cooler water to dissolve the lace.
Step Four: Measure the curved edge of the lace. Cut out a plastic strip of this length and 2 1/2" (60 mm) wide. Mark the center of the strip.
Measure the length between 2 neighboring loops on the lace. It will be about 1/8" (4mm).
Starting from the center of the strip, make 28 holes in each direction on each long side of the strip.
Step Five: Thread a needle with the same thread with which you made the embroidery. Position the stitch-outs as shown. Hand sew the corresponding loops and the holes.
Sew one side at a time.
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