Hi Margaret, If you are downloading a design it should be described as fsl or freestanding lace if it is actually free standing lace. If it does not say that then chances are it is not free standing. you could also tell if the digiitizer has a photo of a stitch out rather than graphics from there software.
if you have a look at my silly little lace ghoul you can see that it is free standing by the shadows and you can see through the design to the back ground.
hope this helps.

Margaret, this is a great question... I've actually had some that said they were FSL but fell apart when I rinsed the wss out of it... I think it is safe to say do a test run first. ;)

Good question, never thought of it! Boy I'd have sworn that the pic meganne put up would have been FSL!

Margaret, I see you have some great answers - I have a great love of lace and I have been fooled once or twice - but sence then - if it doesn't say it is FSL - I run it through my stitch simulator - I even do that sometimes - if it is marked, too. I hope you have one - pretty soon - you can start to trust certian digitizers and then you will lean toward their designs - more than others. Alot of us - have stitched many out - if you have a certain one that you just want to ask if it is - I am sure with the name of the designer and a number - we could tell you, too. Happy stitching.

And no question is silly - except the one not asked.

Well-even if it is not FSL you can do the design on Organza,(Still stich on WSS) and then trim really close - be careful not to cut the stitching, and still have a beautiful design. I love FSL also, and especially the designs that remind me of my mother and grandmother.