Delicate pieces of free-standing lace are stitched together to form an elegant doily!
Stitch in a variety of colors for a rainbow of vintage-style lace. Use to
decorate side tables, dressers, and vanities. They’re also beautiful as 
centerpieces to kitchen and dining room tables!

Supplies Needed:
**Water-soluble stabilizer (WSS - we use Sulky Ultra Solvy)
**Paper towels
**Lace Doily designs: Butterflies Doily Lg or Sm Floral Doily Lg or Sm Daisies Doily Lg or Sm The finished size of the large doily is 10 1/2 inches in diameter; the finished sizes of the small doily is 7 1/2 inches in diameter.

When you download a lace doily design you’ll find two files. The round center piece (labeled with the letter a) should be stitched once; the outer side (labeled with the letter b) should be stitched five times.
Hoop a piece of WSS. We use Sulky Ultra Solvy, but other brands work well, too. To see how different brands of WSS compare when stitching free-standing lace and to see how important it is to hoop the WSS tightly.

Because freestanding lace is two-sided, we’ll use the same thread in the bobbin and the top. Wind a bobbin with the same thread that you’re using in the top. Freestanding lace designs have a high number of stitches, so you may need to wind several bobbins during this project.

Embroider the design. We use a size 11 sharp needle when stitching freestanding lace. A sharp needle has a very fine point, which makes the smallest perforations in the WSS.

Stitch one center piece, and five side pieces. After each design has finished, trim the excess WSS away. Don’t soak any of the stabilizer away yet; we found that it’s easier to stitch the pieces together with the WSS intact.

Now that all the pieces are embroidered, arrange them together in a doily shape.

With the right pieces facing up, align the curved edge of the side piece with the edge of the center piece. Arrange the pieces so the edges are adjacent, but not overlapping.

Using a zigzag stitch, sew the pieces together. Use the same color thread in the top and bottom to match the lace.

Align the second piece right next to the first piece. Use a zigzag stitch to attach that piece to the center. Repeat for the remaining pieces.

If you’re working with the Floral or Butterfly doilies, the side pieces will need to be stitched together, too. Sew the first side piece to the center piece as previously shown. Then, align the second side piece next to the first side piece.

Using a zigzag stitch, sew the second piece to the center piece and to the first side piece. Repeat this process with all five of the side pieces all the way around the center piece.

Soak the WSS away according to the package instructions. If using Sulky Ultra Solvy, soak in hot water from the tap for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Blot the lace with paper towels and allow it to dry. When it’s dry, press with a warm iron.

Stitch these doilies in a variety of different colors! Choose pastels for spring, bold greens and reds for summer, and vibrant golds, oranges, and browns for autumn.
They’re beautiful everywhere — on table tops, dressers, night stands, and vanities.
Enjoy bringing the look of vintage lace to your home.
By. EmbLibrary.com