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The FSL Battenberg Butterfly Lace is a set of two designs. One of the designs can be used as lace insets or a freestanding ornament. The second design should be embroidered several times and assembled into a circular lace. You can then use it as an edge lace, like we did in this tutorial, or as a round inset in other projects.
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. Two of these brand names are Wash-Away and Aqua Magic. Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy, are not suitable for Free-Standing Lace embroidery.
Threads: The thinner the thread, the finer the final product will be. That is why we recommend that at least one of the threads, either in the bobbin or in the needle, should be cotton, which gives bulk to the lace and makes it look hand-made. Embroidery rayon or polyester threads will make very fine weblike lace.
If you are using 50- or 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 regular polyester bobbin thread.
We used Signature machine quilting cotton thread, 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 with metallic needles gives less lint. The needles should be sharp, so it's advisable to change them after every project.
Most Importantly: ALWAYS make a test stitch-out of the design and wash away the stabilizer. This helps you to select the threads, needles, stabilizers and settings of your machine correctly. DO NOT embroider several designs in one hoop.
The finished size of the doily is about 16 in diameter.
Step One: Make a test stitch-out of the design, file "BattenButterflyB". If you are satisfied with the results, embroider the file seven times.
Rinse the stabilizer and leave to air dry.
Press all parts with steam. On your working table, lay out the designs in a circle.
Manually, join the parts in places marked in red. Use the same thread with which you made the embroidery.
Step Two: Place the lace frame on a piece of fabric and pin in place.
Step Three: With a straight stitch along the inner outline of the lace, attach the lace to the fabric.
Step Four: With a pair of sharp scissors cut away the excess fabric close to the stitch.
Step Five: Return to your sewing machine and using short and dense zig-zag, stitch over the raw edge of the fabric from the wrong side. In the bobbin, use the thread of the matching color! Our butterflies are sky blue, so the thread in the bobbin was sky blue.
For the greeting card, we used the second design, file "BattenButterflyA". You will also need a card stack, craft glue and a craft knife.
Step One: Hoop 2 layers of water-soluble mesh and embroider the design. For our sample we used cotton threads with 80/12 needle and pre-wound polyester bobbins.
Wash away the stabilizer and air dry the motif.
Step Two: Unfold the card. Place the lace on the front panel where you 'd like to attach it. With a pencil, mark the inner outline of the butterfly.
Step Three: With a pair of sharp scissors or a craft knife, cut out the outline.
Step Four: Spread a thin layer of craft glue along the edge of the cut-out, place the lace motif over the cut-out on the glue and press firmly with your fingers. Place under a press (a heavy book will do just fine) for a couple of hours to let the adhesive dry.
The card us ready! Enjoy!
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