Free Standing Lace Digitizing
Free standing lace (FSL) digitizing that holds together
Ornaments, bookmarks, earrings and more, stitched on wash-away stabilizer and strong enough to stand on their own. We digitize your lace with a connected lattice and firm satin edges, so nothing falls apart when the stabilizer is rinsed away. Delivered in 6–24 hours, or in 1–6 hours with rush.
- 6–24 hr delivery
- Rush in 1–6 hours
- Free revisions
- No account needed
What Is FSL?
Lace made only of thread
Free standing lace, or FSL, is embroidery with no fabric underneath. The design is stitched onto water-soluble stabilizer, and once that's rinsed away, only the thread is left: a piece of lace that keeps its own shape. It's used for Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, earrings, coasters, doilies and 3D projects sewn together from several pieces.
With no fabric to hold the stitches, an FSL file has to be built differently from a regular one. Every stitch must connect to the others through an underlying grid, the edges need firm satin borders, and both sides must look neat. A normal design sewn this way falls apart in the water.
Best for
- Christmas and holiday ornaments
- Bookmarks, earrings and pendants
- Coasters, doilies and table decor
- Lace edges, collars and trims
- 3D projects assembled from several pieces
- Personalised gifts with names or initials
How We Digitize It
Lace that survives the rinse
Built from the inside out, so every part of the design is tied to the rest before the stabilizer goes.
A connected lattice
A grid of interlocking running stitches sews first, so every part of the lace is joined to the rest and nothing comes loose.
Firm satin borders
Edges are wrapped in dense satin over a run stitch, so the lace keeps a clean, strong outline after washing.
Neat on both sides
Lace is seen from the back too, so we plan the stitching to look tidy from either side, ready for matching bobbin thread.
Balanced density
Enough stitches to hold the shape, but not so many that the lace turns stiff or the stabilizer tears while it sews.
Few jumps and trims
Continuous stitch paths mean fewer trims, so there are no loose thread ends to work out of the lace.
Pieces that line up
For 3D projects, we digitize each piece so its edges line up with the next one for joining.
Examples
Free standing lace, stitched
What free standing lace looks like once the stabilizer is washed away.
A free standing lace Christmas ornament 
An FSL bookmark, ready to use 
The lace lattice and satin edge, up close
Pricing
Priced by design size
Measured on the longer side of the design. Each size you order is priced separately.
Extras are charged once per design, and every file format you need is included in the price.
- Rush (1–6 hours)+$10Delivered in 1–6 hours, depending on size and detail.
- 3D puff+$10Raised foam stitching with the extra density and closed ends that puff needs.
- Applique+$10Fabric cut-outs with placement, tack-down and cover stitches.
Before You Order
Getting great lace
What to send us
- Your design, sketch or a photo of the lace you have in mind
- The finished size and the hoop you'll use
- Whether it's one piece or a 3D project made of several
- Any name, date or text to include
- Your machine, or the formats you need, such as PES or JEF
Tips for the best result
- Use a fibrous wash-away stabilizer, or two layers of film, hooped drum-tight
- Wind the bobbin with the same thread as the top, as both sides show
- Slow your machine down for dense lace sections
- Rinse until the lace feels soft, or less for a stiffer finish, then shape it while damp and let it dry
How It Works
From artwork to stitch file in three steps
Order and describe your lace
Upload your design, choose Embroidery Digitizing and your size, and write “free standing lace” in the instructions, with your hoop size.
We digitize it as lace
Our team builds the lattice, borders and stitch order by hand for wash-away stabilizer. Typically 6–24 hours.
Stitch, rinse and shape
Your files arrive by email and on your order page. Need a change? Revisions are free.
FAQ
Free standing lace questions
Can any design be made into free standing lace?
Most outlines, ornaments, lettering and simple shapes can. Large solid areas are turned into open lace fills, and loose parts are linked to the rest with connecting stitches. If your design needs changes to work as lace, we'll suggest them.
Which stabilizer should I use for FSL?
A water-soluble one: a fibrous wash-away stabilizer, or two or three layers of clear film. Hoop it tight, because lace stitches pull hard on it.
How much does free standing lace digitizing cost?
Free standing lace is priced by design size, measured on the longer side: up to 4″ is $10, up to 8″ is $25, up to 12″ is $35 and over 12″ is $40. Planning a 3D project with several pieces? Contact us for a quote first. See the pricing page for details.
Will the lace keep its shape after washing?
Yes, that's what the lattice and borders are for. For a firmer finish, rinse out less of the stabilizer and let the lace dry flat or over a shape: what's left works like a light starch.
More answers on our FAQ page.
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Explore embroidery digitizingReady to make your lace?
Upload your design now and get a free standing lace file in 6–24 hours. No account needed, and revisions are free.