Barbara, you have received wonderful answers - I wanted to add - that FSL is very fun to do - you can start a project and finish it in the hoop - usually - all you have to do is rinse away the Water Soluable Stabilizer (WSS) the mesh material looking kind is what I use and I always use the same color embroidery thread in the top and bobbin - as the others have said. If you need any hlep - just let us know.
I hope that you already understood. It is + or - a kind of crochet
FSL means Free Standing Lace.......Its a lacy design that does not need fabric to be stitched on. You use a WSS (Water Soluable Stabilizer) WSS washes out when it hits the water. The designs come out lacy looking and then can be used 'alone' or added to other projects. Its a wonderful type of embroidery and I personally do it alot. I just love it.
You got your answer, i love FSL , can you believe when i began embroidery I thought Free Standing Lace was FREE and i kept DL with not result! LOL Well now I know and I love it for many reason, first for the beauty, second there are no color change or very little, third no placemant you just start embroidery and do not need to worry about aliament,after you finish you sew it to your project and if it is a border you sew it together before you wash the WSS, last for its beauty. Hope you try it there are many free FSL in our site.
It is wonderful! I love it, haven't done much in the project part but hoping to get a bell and bowl done eventually. If you try it you will love it. Use the same thread on top and in the bobbin so they are the same color and use the fiber type of water soluble stabilizer (not the plastic look type), usually 2 layers of the wss is best. Rinse in warm water and lay flat to dry, I usually press it with my hands in a towel just to remove some of the water, it will feel sticky and it should, that's what makes it dry stiff. Mostly, try it out with an ornament that is free in Designs by Cuties and you will love it!
Marley is correct. Fre Standing Lace. It is lace that you make using thread and stabilizer that washes out leaving just thread. Not all lace is FSL. The stabilizer leaves enough stiffness that the lace will have body. You have probably seen bowls and bells. These are FSL. It is fun to make. Check out the bells that Miss Veronika has offered us in the lace section (blue bar near the top. Shirene makes absolutely beautiful FSL.
See...didnt I tell ya you'd get a proper response soon!!! LOL
Just did my first one. This is one of the sites the Cuties sent me to to do it, It stands for Free Standing Lace.
Good Luck its alot of fun
Yes, scroll down the the Free Standing Lace video and watch it - it will help answer some questions - you still might have.