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 two embroidery files.

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, metallic embroidery thread was used. You can also use 30 weight cotton or 40 weight rayon 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 second lace piece (labeled with a "b").

Lay the pieces down on the table with the front piece ("a") on top of the back piece ("b"). Make sure the right side of the lace is facing up for both pieces.

Thread a thin beading needle with the same thread as used in the embroider, and tie a knot to close the two loose ends. Then slide the needle through one of the beads, but do not pull the thread all the way through. Instead, thread the needle through the loop of the sting made by the knot, and pull it tight. This should hold the bead on the end of the string.

Now that the bead is attached to the thread, run the needle through the eye holes of both pieces until the bead rests against one side. Then take the second bead and add it onto the string so it rests against the opposite side.

Repeat to thread the needle back through the eye holes and then through the first bead again. Keep the string pulled very tight for best results. Then continue to go back and forth through the eye holes and opposite beads until the two pieces are securely held together.

Sew once through the back side of the back piece, and tie off the thread once secured.

Sewing through the eye holes instead of sewing the two pieces together directly allows the lace pieces to move like a real pair of scissors.