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The FSL Battenberg Paisley Lace is a set of three designs. The designs' unique tear-drop shape works for many different types of projects. They can be used as lace insets, freestanding ornaments and edge lace. They look great on any kinds of clothing: dresses, blouses, T-shirts, etc.
This tutorial shows just some ways the designs can be used to make edge lace for doilies.
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.
For this doily we embroidered one of the designs 6 times.
The finished size of the doily is about 10 inches in diameter.
Step One: Make a test stitch-out of the design, file "BattenPaisley1". If you are satisfied with the results, embroider the file six 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 the places where they are touching. 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. Use thread of the same color in the bobbin! Our lace is sky blue, so we used sky blue thread in the bobbin.
Here are some more ideas for arranging the motifs.
For this doily you will need to embroider the file "BattenPaisley3" 12 times.
To make the doily, follow Steps 1-5.
For this doily, we embroidered the same file 12 times. However, please note that you need the motif 6 times as it is, and 6 times in its mirror image.
For this original-looking doily, we embroidered the file "BattenPaisley2" 12 times. We arranged the motifs with the narrow end inwards, contributing to the unique look.
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