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Here are my best tips on making projects of freestanding lace (FSL).
First off, use your smallest hoop for the design. I use my E-Z Frames 3″ by 4″ frame.
You need to use a water soluble stabilizer for these projects so you can wash it away and leave just the thread. There are two common types: the waxy/plastic-y kind that smells like glue (left) and the fabric-y kind (right) that looks a bit like thin cotton. I have used the waxy kind in a pinch, but you have to trouble or quadruple it up to keep it stable through stitching, so I very much prefer the fabric-y kind.
Hoop your stabilizer as tightly as possible.
Stitch your design! Keep an eye on this to make sure your hoop doesn’t get bumped, shift, etc. Below is a paw print earring design.
When your design is finished stitching, remove it from the hoop and run it under water. The stabilizer will melt away, leaving you with a beautiful project! Lay flat to dry.
TIP: Do NOT manipulate the design while it’s wet; that is to say, don’t stretch it or mess with it too much. When it dries, it will be more stable/stiff, but while it’s wet, in my experience, it’s easy to accidentally stretch the shape. Make sure you just rinse it under the water carefully.
I saw someone in a Facebook group recently mention plastic mesh for use with FSL. She said to grab a piece of plastic mesh, cut it down to maybe card-sized, and tie two pieces together at the edges. You can then insert your FSL project into the mesh “envelope,” rinse rinse rinse under water, and leave flat in the “envelope” to dry! I have the mesh but haven’t made my little envelope yet.
