Flower Fascinator using Filaine Thread & Freestanding Lace
Freestanding Lace Flower Fascinator with Filaine Thread
by Anna He, Seattle Cosplay
Create a flower fascinator using freestanding lace designs and Filaine thread by Sulky. This project is a great starting point for a quick Halloween costume (wear all green and call yourself a bouquet!) and also is a fun addition to your every-day wardrobe.
from Anna:
I have a fall/winter costume on my bucket list and to go along with it is a pretty pastel colored fascinator. The Filaine thread is an excellent choice for a handmade look while using my embroidery machine to stitch out freestanding lace (FSL).
When I first got the thread, I was impressed by its slightly fuzzy texture that leads to a dreamy romantic finished look. This is exactly what I was looking for. I found a few FSL floral designs on Etsy and quickly got to work.
Filaine vs Rayon
What I quickly realized is that while FSL designs needs a crosshatch stitching that serves as the foundation where the design is stitched up on, Filaine is too thick for this. In my trial, I nearly over heated my machine’s motor and the end result was very bulky and stiff.
Because of this, I then used Sulky 40 wt. rayon for the majority of the flower fascinator designs and used Filaine only for the outlines and highlights. The result is super cute!
Here is a comparison of the two methods.
When the laces are done and stabilizers washed away, the lace petals held its shape. It created really 3D organic-looking curls. This flower fascinator is so easy to make. I hand stitch everything down to the teardrop form, then again to the headband.
Tips for Using Filaine Thread for the Flower Fascinator
- Use a size 100 or 110 Organ needle
- Single layer of Ultra Solvy for stabilizer
- Slow down the embroidery speed to Medium
- Brush clean the needle bar and bobbin case often to eliminate fiber build up
- Reduce the stitch density by 10%, or enlarge the design by 10% without changing stitch count if possible
- Use Sulky 60 wt. bobbin thread or invisible thread for bobbin
I hope you will try out this gorgeous thread with very luxe textures. And I can’t wait to show you the finished costume! Follow me on social media to keep up with behind the scenes and work-in-progress updates!
~Anna
Ellen March
I am the Director of Content for Sulky of America. The former Editor in Chief of Sew News and Creative Machine Embroidery magazines, I hosted Sew it All TV on PBS for nine seasons. I've appeared on It's Sew Easy on PBS, DIY Network's Uncommon Threads, Hallmark's Marie Osmond Show, MacPhee Workshop and more! Come sew with me!
7 Comments
Patti Chapman
In the example of the flowers in the hoop, I noticed silver clips going around the hoop.I tried bulldog clips but when the machine got too close it the machine had a mind of it’s own and the bullddog clip went sailing across the room. So using bulldog clips aren’t a good idea for clamping down/securing the stabilizer in the hoop. What are those silver clipsand would they fit on a Brother hoop? Inquiring minds (mine) would like to know. Thank you! Patti
Ellen March
Those clips comes with the Pfaff hoops. It’s exclusive to the Pfaff brand. The inner hoop has a notch that secures the clips placement and it in turn secures the hoops! I love it. 🙂
~Anna
Karen Poole
This is such a great project! I’d like to know where to get the part that you attach the flowers to, the black fascinate part.
And as to the comment above about metal clips in the hoop my Janome 500E comes with clips for the larger hoops, they’re made specifically for these hoops to keep it together a little better!
Ellen March
Hi Karen, Here is a link to the fascinator base. https://amzn.to/2Xf8rL2
ROBIN L FARLEY
Can you tell me where I can find the flower designs you used?
Jackie
Where can I find the flower designs.
Ellen March
https://www.etsy.com/listing/386709026/fsl-digital-machine-embroidery-design