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

When you download the design, you will find a total of 3 files. The file "a" is the petal piece, the file "b" is the flower center, and file "c" is the lace leaf.

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.

As the embroidered tulip pieces will be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin to match every thread color used in the design.

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

Attach the hoop to the machine and load file "a". Follow the color change sheet, and embroider the first color of the design.

After the first color is finished embroidering, change the bobbin out to match the next thread color.

Continue to embroider the design. Watch the color change sheet carefully, and make sure to match the bobbin color to every thread color used in the embroidery.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer.

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

Allow the piece to air dry, and then press it with a pressing cloth on top.

Repeat the steps above to embroider the rest of the pieces. To make a complete tulip, make sure to embroider two copies of the petal piece (labeled with an "a").

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 embroidery 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 in place.

Add the second petal piece onto the wire with the wrong side of the embroidery resting against the previously added petal piece. Carefully hand stitch to two petal pieces together around the hole that the wire goes through. This will prevent the pieces from spinning or sliding off the wire.

Fold up the three petals, and overlap them slightly. Then hand sew them together where they overlap to hold them in place.

Once the flower is completed, position the lace leaf on the wire as desired. Use a hot glue gun to glue the end of it in place, and allow the glue to dry completely before continuing.

Finally, wrap the wire in floral tape to finish off the stem. Wrap over glued end of the leaf as well to reinforce it onto the wire.