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Poppy Cutwork Lace

The Poppy Cutwork Lace design can be embroidered as an insert, a freestanding ornament or an applique. Here are the instructions for all versions.

You will need fabric, water soluble mesh and embroidery polyester threads.

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. Some of these brand names are Fabri-Solvy by Sulky, Wash-Away, and Aqua Magic.
Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy by Sulky or Avalon by Madeira, are not good for the cutwork projects.

Please note, we DO NOT recommend to use rayon embroidery threads with water soluble mesh because its chemicals ruin the thread.

Cutwork Insert

Step One: Hoop the fabric with water soluble mesh. Start the machine from the second color. It will embroider the outline of the design and stop.

Step Two: Take the hoop from the machine. With a pair of sharp scissors cut away the fabric in the areas shown on the picture.

Step Three: Return the hoop to the machine and finish embroidering.

Step Four: Wash away the stabilizer, neatly spread on a flat surface and leave to air dry. Press.

Freestanding Ornament and/or Applique

Step One: Hoop 2 layers of water soluble mesh if you are making an ornament.
Hoop the base fabric stabilized with a layer of appropriate stabilizer if you are making applique.

Start the machine. It will embroider the outline of the design and stop.

Step Two: Place a piece of fabric over the mesh/base fabric to cover the outline. You can pin this piece to the base outside the embroidery area.
Start the machine. It will embroider the outline of the design and stop.

Step Three: Take the hoop from the machine. With a pair of sharp scissors cut away the fabric in the areas shown on the picture - outside the design and inside. Take care not to cut through the stabilizer/or base fabric and stitches.

Step Four: Return the hoop to the machine and finish embroidering.

Step Five: If you are making an ornament, wash away the stabilizer and neatly spread on a flat surface and leave to air dry. Press.

This stitch-out for a large hoop we made as a freestanding ornament and used it on a greeting card:

This stitch-out for a mega hoop we made as an applique and used on a cover of the craft basket. You can read about how to make the basket on the project page.