Lotus Tea Light Holder (Lace)

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

When you download the design, you will find multiple embroidery files which contain all of the pieces of the design.

There are a couple of different kinds of heavy water-soluble stabilizer that we recommend for stitching freestanding lace. 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 freestanding lace will be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin with the same thread that is being used in the top 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". Follow the color change sheet, and embroider the design using a matching bobbin.

After embroidering, trim away the excess stabilizer.

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

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

Repeat the steps above to embroider the rest of the lace pieces.

Take the inner petals (file "b") of the lotus candle wrap, and match up the edges of two neighboring petals with the wrong side of the lace together.

Using a hand sewing needle and matching thread, sew the edges of the two petals together just above the widest point of the petals. Only four or five hand stitches are needed to hold the two petals together.

Then repeat to sew the edges of all six of the petals together just above the widest point of the petals.

Make sure the wrong side of the lace ends up on the inside of the lotus center. It is also important to make sure to sew the petals together in the same place all the way around to make the petals a perfect round shape.

Once the center is sewn, lay the outer petals (file "a") on the table with the wrong side of the lace facing up.

Then lay the sewn inner petals (file "b") on top, and center it. Rotate the inner petals until the sewn edges of the inner petals match up with the centers of each of the outer petals.

After the two pieces are aligned correctly. Hand sew the two petal pieces together by stitching completely through the centers of both pieces. Sew them together all around the circular center of the pieces until they are securely stuck to each other.

For best results use thread matching the inner petals (file "b").

Then fold up two of the outer petals, and match up the edges.

Using matching thread and a hand sewing needle, sew the two petals together at the widest point in the petals. Again, four or five stitches along the edges are enough to hold the petals in place.

Repeat to fold up and hand sew all six of the petals together at the widest point.

It is still important to make sure to sew the petals together in the same place all the way around to make the petals a perfect round shape.

Place a battery-powered candle inside to finish the lotus candle holder. Make sure not to use a real candle, as many threads are flammable.