Free Standing Lace Bookmarks

How to begin free standing lace bookmarks.

Cut 2 pieces of washaway stabilizer using the 5 x 7 hoop to get the size you need.

Hoop the stabilizer and tighten it.

Place the hoop in the machine.

In this case I edited the designs in the EDIT function of the machine so I could make 2 bookmarks in one hooping. The edit function allows you to move the designs around to get them where you want them.

Here is the first design completed. I used  a variegatd thread for design # 1 as I like the effect and then for Design #2  I used the traditional  rayon thread in forest green. Remember to use a bobbin of the same thread as the top thread to get the best effect for your bookmark.

After the embroidery is finished cut them in half and cut away most of the stabilizer.

See how much stabilizer is left when trimmed.

Hot water ,around the edges gets rid of the stabilizer even through the steam. Do not rinse too much just enough to clear out the spaces and the edges. Too much rinsing and the bookmark will be soft instead of stiff.

After rinsing and towel drying,  put the bookmarks on a pad of one tea towel, one piece of paper towel and a piece of plastic mesh. Then reverse the procedure and cover with one piece of plastic mesh one piece of paper towel and one tea towel.

Pile heavy books on the sandwich to keep the bookmarks flat. It takes a couple of days to dry but if you uncover them after a days or so they will dry faster. Be sure that you keep them flat though. It they curl at all then add those books again.

Have fun with this.

I'll do a regular blog later tonight.