3D Freestanding Lace Tulip

Spring has sprung with this three-dimensional freestanding lace tulip! Stitch multiple to create a stunning bouquet, or give a simple tulip as a beautiful gift.

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 petal piece, and the file labeled with a "b" is the flower center.

To make a full tulip, embroider two of the file "a", and one of file "b".

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.

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

Attach the hoop to the machine and load file "a". In this example, 40 weight rayon thread was used.

You can also use 30 weight cotton or metallic thread for most freestanding lace designs.

Embroider 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 rest of the lace pieces.

Cut the wire to 10" long, and curl the end with a needle nose pliers.

Take the first petal piece (piece "a") and slide it onto the wire with the wrong side of the lace resting against the curled end.

Hot glue the flower to the wire curl, and allow the glue to dry before continuing.

Take the flower center (piece "b"), and hot glue it onto the wire curl so that it hides the wire.

Mold the three petals with your fingers, and fold them up so that they overlap each other.

Using a hand sewing needle and matching thread, tack each of the petals together where they overlap to keep them from falling.

Add the second petal piece to the wire with the wrong side of the lace resting against the previously added petal piece, making sure the center of the new petals line up with the visible edge of the previously added ones.

Carefully hand stitch the two lace petal pieces together around the hole that the wire goes through.

This will prevent the pieces from spinning or sliding off the wire.

Shape and fold up the petals to complete the flower.

Hand sew the edges of the neighboring petals together about half way up each side of the three petals to hold them in place.