Butterflies on Flowers Cutwork Lace

These are instructions on how to embroider the Butterflies and Flowers Cutwork Lace designs. The designs can be embroidered as a cutwork insert or an applique.

The set also contains freestanding butterflies, which can be added to the lace for an eye-catching 3D effect.

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

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, Wash-Away, and Aqua Magic.

Film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy by Sulky or Avalon by Madeira, are not good for cutwork projects.

Please note, we DO NOT recommend to use rayon embroidery threads with water soluble mesh because its chemicals ruin the thread.

Freestanding Batterflies

The 3D butterflies are optional. If you don't want to add them, skip ahead.

For the freestanding butterflies you can use organza, organdy or any other fine fabric. It doesn't have to be sheer, but we think sheer fabrics look best.

Hoop organza with a layer of water soluble mesh. Embroider the files with butterflies.

Cut out the butterflies. Wash away the stabilizer.

Cutwork Insert with or without Applique

Step One: Hoop the fabric with water soluble mesh. Start the machine. It will embroider the outline of the design and stop.

Step Two: If you are making applique, cover the outline with applique fabric and start the machine.
We used organza as an applique fabric.

If you do not want an applique, just start the machine. It will embroider the outline of the whole design, butterflies, stems and flowers.

Step Three: Take the hoop from the machine.

If you are making applique, with a pair of sharp scissors cut away the applique fabric around the design and in the areas shown on the picture - inside the design between the leaves, stems, flowers and butterflies outline.

Then cut out the base fabric in the same area. Take care not to cut through the stabilizer.
Note: You might choose not to cut out the base fabric and have an applique without cutwork. In this case, skip the next step and do not embroider the "bridges".

If you are not using applique fabric, cut the base fabric in the areas shown on the picture. Do not cut the stabilizer!

Step Four: Return the hoop to the machine and embroider the "bridges".

Step Five: Start the machine again and finish the raw edges of the design.

Step Six: If you want to add 3D butterflies, pin the freestanding butterflies, as shown, and start the machine.

The machine will embroider the center of the butterflies and fix them in place.

Step Seven: Wash out the watersoluble mesh.

Embroidering on Light Jersey Fabrics

As you can see from our pictures, we embroidered the design on a knit cotton T-shirt. If you embroider on light knits/jersey, you will need additional light-weight cut-away stabilizer under the fabric. We recommend such stabilizers as Soft 'n Sheer, or Soft 'n Sheer Extra by Sulky, No Show Nylon Mesh or Diamond Mesh by Floriani, No Show Fusible or Iron-on Fusible by Marathon and similar stabilizers by other companies.

Whichever brand you use, we recommend iron-on or fusible stabilizer. It forms one layer with the fabric, which makes it easier to do the cutwork. If your stabilizer does not have an adhesive surface, use a temporary fabric adhesive.

Happy Embroidering!

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