Freestanding embroidery designs have been specially digitized for water-soluble stabilizer. After the stabilizer is removed, beautiful embroidered pieces remain.

When you download the design, you will find of total of four embroidery files. File "a" is the largest petal. File "b" is the smaller petal. File "c" is the flower center, and file "d" is the 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.

Hoop a piece of stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and taut and has no wrinkles.

As the embroidered poinsettia's pieces can be seen from both sides, wind a bobbin to match every thread color used in the design.

Look at the color change sheet, and place the first bobbin color into the machine. Then load the first embroidery file (labeled with an "a"), and attach the hoop onto the machine. Embroider the first color.

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

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

After embroidering, trim away the excess water-soluble 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 flat with a pressing cloth on top.

Repeat the previous steps to embroider all of the pieces. Make sure to sew a total of five copies of files "a", "b", and "d" to make a complete poinsettia.

Once all the pieces are completed, it's time to assemble the poinsettia. First take one of the ten petal pieces (labeled "a" or "b"), and fold it with the right sides together. Match up the straight edges of the inner triangle dart cutout, and hand sew the two edges together to create the dart.

Repeat to sew the dart on all ten of the petals.

Then take the five smaller petals (file "b"), and arrange them around the flower center (file "c"), so they are evenly spaced. Make sure the right sides of the petals are facing up.

Hand sew or glue the petals in place by attaching them to the center piece one by one. Make sure to keep them evenly spaced.

Then repeat to arrange and attach the larger petals (file "a") behind the smaller petals. For best results, arrange the larger petals so that they sit in between the smaller petals, and not directly underneath them.

Then repeat again to arrange the leaves as desired. This time sew or glue the leaves to the backs of the petals rather than the center piece.