Freestanding Battenberg Lace Visor for 5" x 7" Hoop

These are instructions on how to embroider the Freestanding Battenberg Lace Visor for 5" x 7" hoop.

There are 2 embroidery files in the set:

Visor:
Size: 180 mm x 130 mm (7" x 5")
Stitches: 21 817
Colors: 2

Strip:
Size: 140 mm x 48 mm (11.33" x 2.3")
Stitches: 10 359
Colors: 2

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. Some of these brand names are Fabri-Solvy by Sulky, Avalon Plus by Madeira, Wash-Away, and Aqua Magic.

Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy by Sulky, Avalon by Madeira and Badge Master are not suitable for Free-Standing Lace embroidery.

Threads: The thinner the thread, the finer the final product will be. That is why for this project we recommend machine quilting 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 often its color will fades under the influence of chemicals from the water-soluble mesh.

You can use 40-, 50- or even 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 50- or 60-weight cotton in the bobbin.

We used Signature machine quilting cotton thread both in the needle and in the bobbin, 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 often.

Most Importantly: ALWAYS make a test stitch-out and wash away the stabilizer. This helps you to select the threads, needles, stabilizers and settings of your machine correctly. It's very important to select the correct thread tension!

Washing out the Stabilizer:

Rinsing away the stabilizer is also an important step, because the lace can be stretched or distorted if this is done incorrectly. We recommend to use a foam board and stainless pins.

Cut away the excess stabilizer close to the stitches. Take your time and carefully pin every single loop on the lace's outer edge to the board.

Now place the board into a bowl with luke-warm water. Leave the board in the water for at least half an hour. Change the water a couple of times.

Take the board out of the water and leave to air dry. Do not unpin the lace until it's completely dry.

Making the Visor

Step One: Embroider the "visor" file once and the "strip" file 4 times. Wash out the stabilizer and dry as described above.

Step Two: Place the strips with the short sides butt-to-butt. Thread a needle with the same thread with which you made the embroidery, and hand stitch the pieces together by the picots (little loops) on each side. Do not stitch the last seam yet. You'll get a long lace strip.

Step Three: Find the center line of the visor and align it with the central seam on the strip.

Starting from the center, handstitch the picots of the visor and strips together, first in one direction, then in the other.

Use the same thread with which you made the embroidery.

Stap Four: Fold the working piece to make the shorter sides of the strips meet and handstitch their picots together to get a headband.

Here is another idea for using the "visor" file. You can decorate a neckline of a dress or T-shirt, or add some seed beads and chain with clasp and get a necklace.

Enjoy!

Happy embroidering!

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