I have never made FSL before. Can someone tell me how to do it, or refer me to a site that is easy to understand. You all have created some beautiful designs and I would like to be able to make them. Also can you stitch the FSL designs on material?

I did some yesterday. It is great to do.

I would like to add something if I may: When you discard the liquid Please be advised that it is not recommended that you dump this into your drains. It is after-all, GLUE! I have been told to dump it in a part of my garden that is not used for anything else. Good Luck & be careful as FSL is very addictive! Welcome to our cute family!

Welcocme to cuties! You are going to love it! it is addicted at least for me it is, i have a shoe box full of them I love FSL

Just wanted to Welcome you to Cute, enjoy :)

Use a size 75/11 or size 80/12 sharp point embroidery needle for FSL.
Start with a new needle and if your design has way more than 20,000 stitches you may have to change to a new needle part way through stitching the design.

Use 1 or 2 laayers of water soluble stabilizer depending on the stitch count of the FSL design.

There are 2 kinds of water soluble stabilier that can be used for FSL.

One is a heavy weight film type (Plastic looking) such as Ultra Solvy or Badgemaster.

The other is a Fibrous type of water soluble( which looks like a very light weight white tear away stabilizer) such as Vilene water soluble, Wash Away, Aqua Magic, H2OGone.

The water soluble stabilizers has to be held tight in your hoop or it can be pulled into your hoop while you stitch as FSL has so many stitches.
If the water soluble does move your FSL design may not turn out right.

To help hold the water soluble stabilizer tight in the hoop it is a good idea to use the Shelf liner strips adhered to the bottom of your inner hoop that is shown on the Criswell K-Lace website that ScienceWidow mentioned and gave the link for.

There are pictures of how to apply the shelf liner strips to your hoop on the Criswell website.
Click on each of the pictures to see a close up of each.
I am reposting the link to Criswell sight here too.

For most FSL designs use a 40 weight Polyester or 40 weight Rayon embroidery thread as your Top thread and Bobbin thread. Which means you will have to wind your own bobbins with the same Top thread.

If you can slow your machine speed down just a bit do so.

Most digitzers will give you instructions of how to put FSL designs together if you are doing FSL Bowls or Doilies.

Once done you can soak the water soluble stabilizer out of the design. If you want the design to be stiff such as a FSL ornament then just soak for a short time until you can't see the stabilizer in the design.
If you want the lace to be soft then soak, change the water and soak some more.

If you have any problems or more questions just post them here and we will help you!

EastWitch2

2 comments

by eastwitch2 09 Mar 2012

Wind more than 1 bobbin with your top thread as FSL design use lots of thread!

If your FSL design has more than one color make sure to wind bobbins with the same color thread that you will use for the design.

by hightechgrammy 09 Mar 2012

Excellent Answer! My only thing to add is to start with a little design, one color and just watch it stitch. You will be amazed - and hooked forever!

Welcome to CUTE !
Yes, I stitch them onto voile or organza sometimes, Then use the sewing machine to stitch them to my Table linen/napkins.
Wash -a -way stiblizer written WWS is used and two layers is recommended. There is a nice one that I have used that looks more like nappy liners or clothlike not slippery like plastic.Turn the layers at right angles to each other -I.
Normal polyester sewing Thread "Serelon" makes beautiful sturdier lace and comes in many shades.
Use top and bobbin thread the same type. (I have done diff shades).
Make a special folder for Free Standing because some designs are not for FSL although they are pretty lace.(one of mine washed to threads)
Happy Stitching
From Bev

1 comment

by bevintex 09 Mar 2012

I would add start small. Don't jump into a large fsl design until you get the feel for it. Vilene is the brand name of the cloth like wash away stabilizer. A clear one is badgemaster. we all have our favorites. i prefer the vilene. Any questions just ask. We're here to help

WELCOME TO CUTE! And I see, you already got an answer, LOL Martine is very quick! hee hee!

The best place to look for all sorts of embroidery questions is EmbLibrary. There are two tutorials on lace among them. See the link and scroll down a bit.
Yes, you can stitch them on fabric too.

1 comment

by momhome 09 Mar 2012

Thank-you for your help. You are all so wonderful.