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These are instructions on how to embroider and assemble the FSL 3D Necklace. This set leaves you a lot of room for creativity. You can play with the color of the thread; you can assemble the necklace in different ways, embellish it with various beads, pearls, crystals, etc. You can also use the pattern decorate the neckline of a dress or T-shirt.
There are 4 files in the set - one each for the left and right long parts, one file for the central part and a file with a small flower, which is used to create a 3D effect.
Most Importantly: ALWAYS make a test stitch-out of the design before working on your final project. This helps you to select the threads, needles, stabilizers and settings of your machine correctly.
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, Avalon Plus by Madeira, Wash-Away, and Aqua Magic.
Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy by Sulky, Avalon by Madeira or Badge Master are not suitable for the project.
The drawbacks of Vilene are that it leaves lint, so clean the bobbin case with a soft brush after every project. Also, dissolve it only in luke-warm water; in hot water, the chemicals in the mesh can cause the color of the thread to fade.
Threads: Free-standing lace (FSL) designs can be embroidered using rayon or polyester embroidery threads, depending on your preference.
We prefer to use 40-weight polyester theads because chemicals from the stabilizer interact with rayon thread dyes.
To get 2-sided embroidery, you should use the same thread for the needle and the bobbin.
Needles: We use size 75/11 or 80/12 embroidery needles. The needles should be sharp, so try to change them after every 1-2 projects.
Hooping: We usually use 2 layers of water-soluble Vilene with our FSL designs. It's very important to hoop the stabilizer VERY tightly, like a drum skin. If your hoop does not hold the stabilizer well (this often happens because the stabilizer is very thin), we recommend to wrap muslin strips around the long sides of your hoop's outer frame, as you can see in the picture below.
Impotant Note: It's very important to use as small a hoop as possible. E.g. if your design is for a small hoop, use the small hoop, not a large one; if your design is for a large hoop, use large, not mega. The smaller the hoop, the more stable it is.
DO NOT try to embroider several FSL designs in one hoop. Water-soluble stabilizers have a tendency to stretch and in a larger hoop it will stretch more than in a smaller one. This can lead to misplaced stitches and the design might fall apart after the stabilizer is dissolved. It's always better to embroider one part at a time.
Thread Tension: Freestanding lace designs look best when the needle and bobbin threads meet halfway. Stitch a sample, and adjust the tension if needed. Consult your machine's manual and/or dealer on how to do this.
Besides watersoluble mesh and embroidery threads you will need some jewelry findings, such as a clasp, jump rings, and all kinds of small embellishments - beads, seed beads, pearls, crystals, etc.
If you have the tools to work with metal, use them to attach the embellishments and clasps. If you don't, you can attach everything with just needle and thread.
Universal glue may also be useful.
Step One: Hoop 2 layers of watersoluble mesh. Embroider each file from the set once.
Embroidery the small flower at least 5 times.
Step Two: Cut away the excess stabilizer. Rinse the remainder. Neatly spread on a towel and leave to air dry. Press with steam.
Step Three: Now lay out the patterns and see which arrangement you like more.
Our blue necklace is assembled as shown on the diagram below. The red marks show where the parts were stitched together.
Here is another lay-out, it differs from the first one in the way the side parts are arranged:
You can also play with the central part and attach it with the flower up or down. Please note that the necklace will have a different shape each time. Choose the shape most suitable for the neckline of your dress.
Step Four: Hand stitch the parts together. Use the same thread with which you made the embroidery.
The small flowers can either be stitched on by hand or glued - apply a drop of universal glue to a large flower and place the small flower over it.
Step Five: Embellish with pearls, seed beads, crystals, etc.
To finish the necklace, you will need to make ties or clasps to wear it around your neck.
The easiest and the fastest way is to attach narrow organza ribbons.
If you like bead work but prefer to sew, make several stitches on the tips of the leaves, string seed beads on the same thread. Make the string as long as you need. Sew one half of the clasp to the end of the thread with beads. In the same way attach the second half of the clasp.
If you prefer metal work, open a jump ring, insert it into the tip of the necklace.
Insert a ring of a chain in the same jump ring and close it.
Open another jump ring and insert it through one half of the clasp. Close the ring.
Thread the chain through the jump ring.
Open the third jump ring and insert it into a neighboring leaf tip. Insert the second end of the chain in the same ring. Close it.
You can also use the embroideries to embellish the neckline of any outfit - from a dressy to a casual one. You can read about the T-shirts on the project page.
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