Doilies with FSL Apple Blossom Border

The FSL Apple Blossom Doily is a set of two freestanding lace machine ermbroidery designs. On this page, we show how to use them to make the doilies.
The designs are embroidered in the same way as our FSL ornaments, so our General Guidelines might be helpful.

Some points to remember from the General Guidelines:
Use Vilene water soluble stabilizer;
Use the same thread for the needle and bobbin to get two-sided embroidery.
DO NOT embroider several designs in one hoop.

You will need Vilene water soluble stabilizer, embroidery thread, a 16" x 16" piece of fabric for the smaller doily and a 19" x 19" piece for the larger doily. The finished size of the smaller doily is about 14" x 14" and of the larger doily is 17" x 17".

For the smaller doily, we used the designs for the 5" x 7" hoop, for the larger doily we used the same designs for the 6" x 10" hoop.

Step One: If you want to make a doily with the embroidered insert, pre-wash the fabric. Embroider the fabric insert, and set it aside for a while.

Step Two: Embroider both FSL designs four times each.
Use 2 layers of Vilene-type water-soluble stabilizer. To get 2-sided embroidery, use thread of the same color for both the needle and bobbin. Rinse the stabilizer and leave to air dry. Then press with steam.

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 the large one; if your design is for a large hoop, use large, not mega. Do not try to embroider several freestanding lace designs in one hoop. This is because all water-soluble stabilizers stretch, and in a bigger hoop, it's going to stretch more. This can lead to the design falling apart after the stabilizer is dissolved. It's always better to embroider one part at a time.

Step Three: Place the lace parts on a flat surface to make the shape shown below. Thread a needle with the thread with which you made the embroidery and stitch the parts together. This has to be done manually.

Step Four: Place the lace frame over the fabric. Secure in place with pins.

Thread your machine with the threads you used for embroidery and, using short but NOT dense zigzag, stitch along the inner edge of the lace frame.

Step Five: Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut away the excess fabric from under the lace.

Step Six: Return to your machine and using a very dense zigzag, of the same width as the lace edge, stitch along the edge of the fabric. Continue to use the same thread with which you embroidered the design.

The doily is ready. Enjoy!

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