Freestanding lace designs have been specially digitized for water-soluble stabilizer. After the stabilizer is removed, beautiful lace remains behind.

When you download the design, you will find a total of 2 files. The file labeled with the letter "a" is the body of the cone cat. The file labeled with the letter "b" is the cat's tail.

There are a couple of different kinds of water-soluble stabilizer. One is clear and plastic, and that brand is Sulky Ultra Solvy. The other is soft and fibrous, called Vilene. Both will work very well. Vilene is used in this demonstration.

Use a size 11 or 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.

Freestanding lace is seen from both sides, so wind a bobbin with the same thread that you're using in the needle. Then wind two more bobbins to match the other thread colors being used in the design.

Hoop the stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

Load the first file (piece a) onto your machine, and attach the hoop onto the machine.

Use 40 weight rayon or polyester thread. You can also use 30 weight cotton or metallic thread for most freestanding lace designs. Make sure the bobbin thread matches the top thread.

Embroider the design. The inner ears and nose will stitch out first.

After the first color has finished sewing, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the next bobbin color into the machine.

Replace the hoop, and continue to embroider the design. The eyes will stitch out.

For the last color change step, stop the machine, and load the third bobbin color into the machine. Then embroider the rest of the design.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer.

The stabilizer's packaging should give instructions for removing the excess. For Vilene, soak the lace pieces for a few moments.

Allow the lace to air dry, then press with a pressing cloth on top.

Repeat the steps above to embroider the tail of the cat. The tail is only one color, so only one bobbin will be needed.

Starch the two pieces flat before assembling to make them sturdier.

Take the body of the cat, and gently fold it in half with the wrong sides of the lace together.

Match up the straight sides, and hand sew the edges together.

Once finished sewing, shape the cat into its cone shape. Then use a hot glue gun to glue the base of the tail to the bottom of the seam where the two edges meet.