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3D Santa's Flight (Lace)

3D Santa's Flight (Lace)

Create a dramatic new holiday decoration with Santa's Flight in 3-D Lace. It'll be spectacular on your mantle or as a centerpiece on the buffet or dining room table!

Santa and his eight trusty reindeer take flight in this 3-D freestanding lace project.

Follow the directions below to create this lovely ten-piece lace set. Then, with a bit of wire and magic, you can make the reindeer appear to be leaping into the air to fly above the roof tops.

The finished size for this project (using the large designs) is 27 1/2 inches long by approximately 5 1/2 inches high. If using the smaller pack, the finished size will be slightly smaller.

Supplies & Materials:

- Water-soluble stabilizer

-  Paper towels

- Fabric glue

- 16-gauge colored wire


Optional:

- Small ornaments and candy

- Wire cutter/pliers

- Colorful pipe cleaners

- 2 yards of decorative cord

The designs used in this tutorial include:

- A Santa's Flight (Lace) Design Pack


Special Project Notes:


You can use either 40 weight rayon thread or 30 - 35 weight cotton thread.

I use Coats and Clark 30 and 35 weight cotton thread. It's labeled as Mercerized ELS Cotton for Machine Quilting & Crafts; Machine Quilting; or All Purpose. I find Coats and Clark cotton thread at JoAnn's. I've also used Madeira Cotona, which is a 30 weight cotton thread.

I use the 30 - 35 weight cotton thread both in the bobbin (I wind my own bobbins) and in the top (needle).


A note about water-soluble stabilizers and needles:

There are many, many different brands of water-soluble stabilizer available. Some are thin and light, some are fibrous, and some are thick and heavy. It can be confusing to pick the right one for your lace project.

We've digitized and stitched thousands of freestanding lace designs, and have consistently excellent results with Sulky Ultra Solvy (the heavy weight water-soluble stabilizer by Sulky) and Vilene, a fibrous water-soluble stabilizer.

Use a sharp needle (as opposed to an embroidery needle) when embroidering onto water-soluble stabilizer - especially if using the "plastic-looking" kind (such as Sulky Ultra Solvy). An embroidery needle has a larger point, which makes larger holes in the water-soluble stabilizer, leading to tearing and misalignment.

For each design, hoop one piece of water-soluble stabilizer (WSS). We used Sulky Ultra Solvy.

White plastic embroidery hoop with rectangular inner frame and handle, lying on a wood grain surface, partially wrapped in clear plastic.

We embroidered eight reindeer (sewing a mix of the three,
3-piece reindeer designs in the pack), the 3-piece Santa design, and the 4-piece Sleigh design.


Because freestanding lace is two-sided, the bobbin thread should match the top thread for each design.


Wind a bobbin with the same thread that you'll be using in the needle for each design.

Close-up of a hand holding a transparent plastic bobbin with gold-colored thread, positioned in front of a white sewing machine needle area.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, and embroider the design.

Note: We recommend a size 11 sharp needle when embroidering freestanding lace.

Close-up of an embroidery machine stitching a brown lace reindeer design on white fabric, showing detailed threadwork and machine needle.

After each design has been embroidered, unhoop the WSS and cut away the excess.


Trim as close to the embroidery as possible without cutting any of the stitches.

Delicate beige lace reindeer with patterned embroidery on clear plastic, lying on wood surface next to orange-handled scissors and plastic sheet.

Soak all of the designs in a container of hot tap water.

If you are using Sulky Ultra Solvy, soak for 15 minutes. For other brands of WSS, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Hand holding delicate lace embroidery of a reindeer with gold and brown thread, partially submerged and foaming in a clear water basin.

Blot the lace with paper towels.


Allow the lace to dry completely. It should retain some stiffness.

Hand holding a white textured cloth with floral embroidery, partially covering a brown embroidered 3D reindeer lace applique on a white fabric background.

Assembling Santa

Align the back edges of the two Santa pieces together (files "a" and "b").

Red embroidered lace shaped like butterfly wings with symmetrical patterns and cutouts, laid flat on a dark wood grain surface.

Use the same thread color that you used to embroider the Santa design to sew a zigzag stitch along only the back edge of the two pieces.

Red lace fabric with geometric and intricate cutout patterns being stitched on a white sewing machine, close-up of the needle area.

Fold the pieces, wrong sides together, and fold the lace along the borders that are right next to the zigzag stitch.

Hand holding a red lace embroidery piece resembling a curved Santa hat with detailed stitched patterns, placed on a wooden surface.


Unfold the lace and lay it with the wrong side up. Squeeze a line of fabric glue from the ball on the hat, across and down along the face, beard, and the front.


Stop when you get to the bottom edge.


Two red lace stockings with detailed patterns and Santa faces, placed on a wooden surface; a hand holding a white glue bottle is partially visible.

Fold the piece together, aligning the shapes, and press together.

Red lace embroidery of Santa Claus in profile, showing his hat, beard, and coat with a diamond pattern, held by fingers over a wood surface.

Add fabric glue to the back "spine" of the lace.

Hand holding a piece of red lace fabric shaped in a fold over a wooden surface, with a bottle of BRI-TEX fabric adhesive nearby.

Lay the arm piece (file "c") with the wrong side up. Align the spine of the first piece with the center of the arm piece. Insert a pen inside the lace, so you can press the pieces in place.

Hand holding blue pen lifting a 3D red lace embroidery piece shaped like a bird, placed on a brown wood grain surface.

Add a drop of glue to the inside of the arms.

Red lace embroidery piece shaped like a stylized Santa with a patterned hat and scarf lies on a wood surface. A hand holds a glue bottle near it.

Fold the arms and press in place.

Hand holding a red lace embroidery piece shaped like a stylized sack or bag with decorative patterns, on a wooden surface and blue wall background.

Assembling the Sleigh

Lay the front, bottom, and back pieces (files "d" and "e") with the right sides facing up and the swirled detail facing to the outside, as shown.

Green embroidered lace strip with geometric and swirled patterns, laid flat on a wooden surface, held at one end by a hand.

Zigzag stitch the pieces together using a matching thread color.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a green embroidered fabric with geometric and swirl patterns. The fabric is under the presser foot.

Lay the sewn front, bottom, and back piece wrong side up and align the bottom edges of the side pieces (files "f" and "g") along each long side of the sewn piece. The front of the side pieces, which is the end with the swirl knob, should face towards the front of the sewn piece. The front of the sewn piece is the end with eight swirls within the shape.


Also, align the third line inside the runner (counting from the pointed end) with the seam in the sewn piece. Do this with each side piece.

Green embroidered lace fabric piece laid flat on a wood surface, with intricate swirls and geometric patterns; a hand touches the right wing-shaped section.

Zigzag stitch the side pieces in place starting at the inside of the pointed end of the runner and ending as soon as you get to the curved section of the side piece.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching green fabric with intricate quilted and swirl patterns, held and guided by a hand during embroidery.

Fold the side pieces up and pinch along the seams. This makes the side pieces stand upright.


Then, add fabric glue along the sides of the back panel piece.

Green lace fabric shaped like a stylized bird or winged figure with swirl and geometric embroidery, laid flat on a wooden surface with a glue bottle nearby.

Bring the back panel up to meet the back edges of the side pieces and press in place.

Green lace sleigh with embroidered swirls, held open by a hand, placed on a wooden surface with a blue background wall.

Add fabric glue to the sides of the front panel piece.

Green felt sleigh with embossed swirl patterns being glued with white Craft Glue on a wood surface.

Bring the front panel up to meet the front edges of the sides and bottom edges of the lace.

Hand holding a green fabric container with intricate swirling lace embroidery, shaped with raised, layered edges on a wooden table.

Add fabric glue along the sides and bottom of the Santa piece..

Red 3D lace embroidery of Santa Claus holding a book, placed on a wooden table. A white glue bottle is visible to the right, background shows a blue wall and shelves.

Place Santa in the sleigh as far up as he can go. Press in place along the sides and bottom.

Hand holding a red lace Santa figure being placed inside a green lace decorative box with swirled patterns on a wooden surface.

Assembling the Reindeer

Lay the side pieces (files "a" and "b") with the wrong sides up. Apply fabric glue to the "b" piece starting at the nose; go up the forehead, but do not add glue to the antlers.


Work your way around the ears, down the neck, and across the back. Stop when you reach the back of the tail.

Two tan lace embroidery reindeer connected by a curvy lace design, placed on a wooden surface with the tip of a white glue bottle visible.

Lay the "a" piece on top of the "b" piece, wrong sides together. Align the head, back, and tail together and press in place.

Hand holds a delicate tan lace embroidery of a prancing reindeer with detailed geometric patterns on a dark wood surface.

Lay the belly piece (file "c") with the right side up. Apply glue to just one end of the piece. Starting in the middle on one side, work your way to the tip, and back down the other side. Stop when you reach the middle of the other side.


Also, align the third line inside the runner (counting from the pointed end) with the seam in the sewn piece. Do this with each side piece.

Close-up of a light brown, narrow lace piece with a diamond pattern on a wood surface, next to a white plastic bottle applying adhesive or glue.

Add the tip of the belly piece under the chin, and align the piece with the chest of the reindeer, following the outer shape.

Hand holding a layered, light brown lace embroidery piece in the shape of a reindeer with intricate geometric and floral patterns on a wood surface.

Add glue to the remaining edges of the belly piece and align it with the back end of the reindeer.

Repeat these assembly instructions for each reindeer.

A close-up of a brown lace reindeer ornament on a wooden surface with clear glue being applied from a nozzle onto its body.

Assembling the Harness

Lay the reindeer on a flat surface and space them in the order you would like them to be joined. Measure from the chest of the first reindeer to the chest of the last reindeer and add about 3 inches.

Our harness measures 23 inches long.

Eight small, brown, intricately detailed lace reindeer arranged on a white background, evenly spaced in two rows.

Cut four pieces of the colored wire to the measurement you just took and straighten the wires.

Wrap the entire length of each wire with colored pipe cleaners.

Close-up of a hand holding a needle and a textured dark green yarn strand, with two other dark green yarn strands threaded through needles placed horizontally on a white background.

Add fabric glue along the side of the reindeer from the middle of the chest to the back of the leg.

Brown embroidered reindeer lace pieces arranged on a white surface with a green string and a small bottle of clear glue nearby.

Add the wire harness to the reindeer and press in place.


Repeat this for each reindeer.

Hand holding green pipe cleaner shaped over brown lace reindeer with detailed embroidery on white background.

When the glue has set, flip the reindeer over and glue along the other side of the reindeer, just as you did for the first side. Press the harness in place.


Also, align the third line inside the runner (counting from the pointed end) with the seam in the sewn piece. Do this with each side piece.

Close-up of a brown lace reindeer ornament being glued onto a green pipe cleaner with clear adhesive from a white bottle. White background.

Now, add the harness to the other set of reindeer.

Close-up of a hand threading a green pipe cleaner through a tan embroidered lace reindeer with detailed stitch patterns on a white background.

Twist the back end of the harnesses together.

Hand holding a green pipe cleaner twisted through the legs of a small brown lace reindeer on a white background.

Add glue to the sides of the sleigh and...

Close-up of green and red lace embroidery shaped like a sleigh with intricate swirls, next to a clear glue bottle with a white nozzle.


...press the twisted ends of the harness in place.

Hand holding a green embroidered sleigh piece with intricate swirl patterns, next to red and brown embroidered lace parts on white background.

Add reins by first gluing decorative cord inside Santa's hands and then gluing the cord to each of the reindeer shown.

Two brown embroidered reindeer ornaments with intricate patterns are held by a hand, threaded with thick green yarn strands against white background.

The reindeer will need a little help getting off the ground!


To make them fly, cut two 6-inch lengths of the colored wire. Use pliers to bend a one-inch diameter circular "base" and then bend the wire to the center of the circle.

Hand holding pliers shaping green wire into a loop on a white surface with shadow visible.

Add the wire bases to the harness at a point near the front ends of the second pair of reindeer (counting out from the sleigh). Insert the end of the wire in between the reindeer and harness and then bend the wire around the harness. Add a drop of glue between the wire and the reindeer and press it in place.


After the glue has set, bend the pipe cleaner harness upwards to make the reindeer appear to be leaping into the air!

Close-up of brown embroidered lace reindeer with detailed stitching, green pipe cleaners, gold string, and a hand holding pliers adjusting the wire.

Fill the sleigh with all kinds of goodies like candy, small ornaments, or toys!

Hand holding green lace sleigh filled with small wrapped presents, red ribbon, gold bells, and miniature Christmas drum on white background.

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Green lace sleigh with red gift sack, brown lace reindeer, and a chain of eight brown lace reindeer pulling a green lace harness, text "3D Lace Santa's Flight" in red centered.