Cutwork Lace Decorative Towel Holder

These are instructions on how to embroider and sew the Cutwork Lace Towel Holder. The design is available for the commercial hoop (5" x 12").

Commercial Hoop: Size: 109 x 259 mm Stitches: 26664 Colors: 1

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

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 more sensitive to the chemicals in the water-soluble mesh. We do not like to use rayon thread for cutwork lace projects.

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

Holder:

Step One: Upload the file into the machine. Hoop 1-2 layers of water-soluble mesh. Start the machine. It will embroider the outline of the design over the stabilizer.

Step Two: Cover the outline with a piece of fabric and start the machine. The next color will embroider the same outline and the flower motif inside it over the fabric.

Step Three: Take the hoop from the machine. With a pair of sharp scissors cut away the fabric inside the outline in the places shown on the picture below and around the outline.

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

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 all the edges 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.

Press, if needed.

Assembly:

You will need a towel, 2 buttons (one of them is decorative), sewing pins, sewing machine.

Position the holder on one edge of a towel. Pin in place.

On your sewing machine, stitch in place along the outer edges.

Position the decorative button in the center of the holder, as shown.

Position the working button on the back side of the towel under the decorative button. Hand sew them both, simultaneously, to the towel.

Fold the long tongue of the holder to the wrong side.

Hang the towel on a bathroom towel ring and button the loop.

Happy Embroidering!

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