Sunflower Applique with Cutwork Lace

The Sunflower Applique with Cutwork Lace design is available in 3 sizes: for large (5" x 7") hoops, for mega and for commercial-size hoops. Please see the sizes of the design below.

Large Hoop:
Size: 92 x 179 mm
Stitches: 45 603
Colors: 1
Stops: 5

Mega Hoop:
Size: 132 x 258 mm
Stitches: 71 788
Colors: 1
Stops: 5

Commercial Hoop:
Size: 152 x 300 mm
Stitches: 84 543
Colors: 1
Stops: 5

To embroider the design, you will need base fabric, fabric for applique, water soluble mesh and embroidery threads. Select the colors of the fabrics and threads to your taste.

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, Avalon Plus by Madeira, Wash-Away, and Aqua Magic.

40-weight embroidery polyester threads are preferred for the project.
Cotton thread is not suitable because the embroidery will be too bulky.
Rayon thread is softer and sensitive to the chemicals in the water-soluble mesh. We do not like to use rayon thread for cutwork lace projects, though other people do and get good results.

Please note: ALWAYS make a test stitch-out on scrap before you make a stitch-out on the real item.

Step One: Hoop the base fabric with a layer of water soluble mesh. Upload the file into your machine. Start embroidering. The first color will embroider the outline of the design.

Step Two: Cover the center of the flower with a piece of applique fabric.
Start the machine. It will embroider the center of the flower over the applique fabric.

Step Three: Take the hoop from the machine and with a pair of sharp scissors cut away the applique fabric around the outline.

Step Four: Return the hoop to the machine and start it. The third color will embroider the outlines of the leaves and stop.

Step Five: Cover the outline with applique fabric and start the machine. It will embroider the same outline over the applique fabric.

Step Six: Take the hoop from the machine and cut away the fabric around the leaf outlines.

Step Seven: Then cut away the base fabric in the areas shown on the picture below: around the petals and around the leaves, inside the frame.

Step Eight: Return the hoop to the machine and start it. The last color will finish the raw edges of the applique and make the frame.

Step Nine: Wash away the stabilizer and leave to air dry. Press with steam if needed.