Floral Freestanding Lace Table Runner Instructions

In order to create this fine freestanding lace embroidery decorated table runner you will need:

Our Freestanding Lace Floral Table Runner Set : SKU 10329 FSL Floral Table Runner Set
Water-soluble stabilizer suitable for stitching out freestanding lace (we prefer Vilene)
Suitable machine embroidery thread: We find that polyester thread is especially suitable for these designs. In order to have the stitched out embroidery look the same on both sides, we would recommend that you use the same upper thread and bobbin thread.
Suitable fabric of your choice (we have used linen to create the table runner featured on our site). Since some fabrics tend to shrink, you may want to dip the fabric in water for 2 hours before using it and then dry and iron it.

Step-by-step instructions for creating the table runner

1. Hoop the water-soluble stabilizer. Depending on the type of stabilizer you are using, you have to hoop from a minimum of 2 and up to 4 layers. Make sure it is hooped very tight.

2. Stitch out the design components.
In order to prepare the table runner featured on our site, you will need to stitch 4 times the FSL floral corner and 20 times - the FSL floral border design. Carefully cut off the loose thread ends you get in the process of stitching (at the beginning or when changing thread).

3. Cut away the excess stabilizer. It will be easier to not cut the stabilizer close to the design outline from all sides. It will be enough to do this only from the sides were the pieces are to be connected like shown on the image to the right.

4. Connect the components to each other with manual stitches from the back side using the same thread you used to stitch out the designs. The places to apply the stitches are marked with red on the image:

Connect the freestanding lace components

When you are done connecting all pieces:

5. Place the connected freestanding lace components face up on top of the fabric. You can attach the lace to the fabric with pins or with temporary manual stitches. We prefer to use the second method as it usually is better at holding the lace and fabric together.

Place the freestanding lace on the fabric <

If the colors of the freestanding lace and the fabric you are using are very similar you may want to trace the outline of the freestanding lace with an invisible marking pen (like the one on the picture) in order to make the stitching easier. The ink from such a pen will disappear usually after 5-10 minutes when you place the material in water of after 24 hours. Although using such pens is considered absolutely safe, if you have not used it before, we would recommend that you test it with the thread / fabric you are going to use, just to be on the safe side.

6. Stitch the freestanding lace to the fabric using machine zig-zag stitch – we used a 3 mm stitch with a density of 0.5 mm.

Stitch the freestanding lace to the fabric

When you are done stitching the freestanding lace and the fabric together:

7. Cut away the excess fabric and dip the table runner in water until the stabilizer has been completely dissolved.

8. Let the table runner dry on an towel and then iron it.

Congratulations! Your freestanding lace decorated table runner is ready. You should now have someting like this

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