Layered Battenburg lace flowers are beautiful when worn in your hair, incorporated in your clothing, and used to dress up place settings. See how to make your own gorgeous freestanding lace blooms using these helpful instructions, then whip up a garden full of flowers!
Supplies & Materials:
- Size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle
- Needle and thread for hand sewing
- Fabric flue or hot glue and gun (optional)
- Water-soluble stabilizer
(Vilene or Sulky Ultra Solvy)
- 30-35 weight cotton thread
- 1/2" button
- Hair clips or lapel pins (optional)
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Battenburg lace designs are embroidered onto water-soluble stabilizer. When the stabilizer is soaked away, beautiful lace remains behind.
Battenburg lace is digitized for 30-35 weight cotton thread. This thread brings a classic, hearty, and traditional look to the lace pieces.
30-35 weight cotton thread is found under different names, such as mercerized cotton or all-purpose cotton.Because freestanding lace is seen from both sides, the same thread should be used in the top and the bottom.
Wind a bobbin with the cotton thread used in the needle.
There are two main types of water-soluble stabilizer that are recommended when embroidering freestanding lace. One is clear and looks like plastic; an example brand name is Sulky Ultra Solvy. The other kind is soft and fibrous, such as Vilene. Both will work well; Vilene is used in this example.
Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, instead of an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle. That means it will make smaller holes in the stabilizer.
Hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.
Embroider the design. The Battenburg lace flowers use two colors of thread. Change the bobbin thread for the second color, too..
After embroidering, cut most of the stabilizer away.
Soak in a bowl of water to remove the excess.
Air dry, and press.
Layer the pieces together, right sides facing up, with the largest piece at the bottom. Add the other pieces going from largest to smallest. Using a needle and thread, sew a button in the center of the flower to tack all the layers together.
Add hair clips to the back of the flowers to create beautiful hair accessories! Simply add a couple of drops of hot glue or fabric glue to the backside of the clip. Press in place in the center back of the flower.
Or, use the same method to adhere a lapel pin to the back of the flower. Beautiful on buttonups or sweaters!
These gorgeous layered flowers can also be added to home decor items, such as table settings, pillows, and more. Attach to a ribbon to make your own napkin ring, or weave a safety pin through the back of the flower and pin onto curtains or nursery decor.
Plus, these blooming flowers are brilliant additions to your fashion accessories, too! A Plain Jane purse gets an instant update when adorned with a lace flower; straw hats and scarves also showcase the blooms beautifully.
