Add a stitch of charm to your wardrobe with a lovely freestanding lace bracelet. It's made from a combination of both rayon and cotton threads. Follow along with the step-by-step project instructions below to make your own!
Supplies & Materials:
Project Materials
- Cotton embroidery thread
- Rayon embroidery thread
- 75/11 sharp sewing needle
- Water-soluble stabilizer
- Scissors
- Jewelry clasp (lobster, spring, or toggle clasp)
- Coordinating jump rings
- Jewelry or needle nose pliers
- Pressing cloth
- Iron
- Measuring tape
- Metal chain (optional)
The designs used in this tutorial include:Â
Gather Materials:
Freestanding lace bracelet designs have been specially digitized for use with water-soluble stabilizer. After the stabilizer is removed, beautiful lace remains. Lace bracelets come in four available sizes, meaning that they can be made to fit a variety of wrist sizes.
To start, measure your wrist with a measuring tape to help determine which size of the bracelet you will need. Bracelets come in 5", 6", 7", and 8" long finished measurements. Select the size that is closest to your wrist measurement and desired bracelet fit.
There are a few different kinds of water-soluble stabilizer. One is clear and plastic, and that brand is Sulky Ultra Solvy. The other brand is soft and fibrous, called Vilene. Both will work very well. Vilene is used in this demonstration. Use a size 75/11 sharp sewing needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle. That means it will make smaller holes in the stabilizer.
The chain of the bracelet has been digitized to sew out with 30-35 weight cotton thread. Cotton thread will make the chain stronger and harder to break. This type of thread is found under different names, such as mercerized cotton or all-purpose cotton.
As this design will be seen from both sides, make sure to wind a bobbin to match every thread color used in the design.
Start Embroidering:
Hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is drum tight with no wrinkles.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Follow the color change sheet to embroider the design. Make sure to match the bobbin to every upper thread color used in the design. For the details of the bracelet, rayon or other embroidery threads can be used.
When embroidering the chain, make sure to use the cotton thread and matching cotton bobbin. The cotton thread is stronger and sturdier than rayon or other embroidery threads, and it will be harder to snap or break.
After the design has sewn out, unhoop the design and trim away the excess stabilizer.
The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the excess. For Vilene, soak the design for a few hours. The longer the design soaks the softer it will become.
After soaking, allow the lace to air dry, then use a press cloth and iron to press the design flat.
Next, take a jump ring and bend it open slightly with your needle nose pliers. Slip one loop of the bracelet onto the open jump ring.
Add the clasp to the jump ring as well, and then bend the jump ring shut
On the opposite side of the bracelet, add something for the clasp to hook onto. Make a non-adjustable bracelet by using a single jump ring. Or, if you prefer, you can make an adjustable bracelet by adding a short metal chain that is roughly 1"-2" long.
