Released August 21, 2009
by Bridgett Catron
To dry free standing lace after stitching, I cut away all the stabilizer that I can and then using straight pins, I pin the lace items to the back of used Styrofoam trays that I’ve washed and dried very well (I save the trays that come with vegetables or fruit).
At this point I rinse the entire thing, since the water soluble stabilizer dissolves in water; then I leave the tray to sit with the piece still attached in the kitchen sink for about 15 minutes or so, leaning to the side so it can drain a bit. After this, I take it to my sewing room to dry overnight.
You can get trays in some very large sizes, they’re quite sturdy. In fact, I have the same trays that I’ve used for the last 4 or 5 years, and just use them over and over. You’ll find that once the piece is dry and you’ve removed the pins, for the most part, the FSL is flat enough that you won’t have to press it and that it is basically ready to use.
When I rinse FSL, I place it between 2 layers of needlepoint plastic canvas. That way, it can dry on both sides and the sturdiness of the plastic canvas helps to keep it flat.
Comment by Granny Bryant — August 21, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Thank you very much for this tip. I have only done a few items of FSL and when I rinsed out the stabilizer I found that the item had a tendency to become wavy, and in a couple of instances, to change shape. Your idea of pinning to the trays definitely will solve this problem. Thanks again.
Comment by Verna McCallen — August 21, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
Good tip…I will have to try this.
Comment by JoAnn — August 21, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
I like this idea, thanks for the advise
Comment by Sheila — August 21, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
This is a GREAT idea. I have dried my FSL lots of different ways….but this is a clever idea I will be trying next time. Thanks for sharing, this is one of the best things about crafters…sharing their own trials and tribulations. And I love that you are re using something you already had, in such a unique way. KUDOS..Candy from Iowa
Comment by Candy — August 21, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
I am planing to maake some lace for christmas gifts. So thanks for the tip. But could you answer a question. The one time I tried this it was on some ornaments and when they dried they were too floppy. I tried spray starch but didn’t help. What do you use. Some one told me you should sew them on tulle and trim them but I don’t really like that idea. Thanks for any help you can give.
Blessins’
Terri
Comment by Terri Beck — August 21, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
Thank you Bridgett what a great idea
will try it next time i do fsl.
Regards Grace
Comment by Grace Briley — August 21, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
Thank you. This is a wonderful idea. In OZ we get veges in Styrofoam boxes. I can pin the lace to the base & stand it on its side to dry.
Comment by Lilette — August 21, 2009 @ 11:41 pm
This sounds like a great idea, I also know that the better the stabilizer the happier you’ll be with lace. I do not have any luck with lace and ultra or super solvy, I have to have one with a weave to get good lace.
Comment by JoAnn — August 22, 2009 @ 1:41 am
Great tip Bridgett
I use large sheets of Styrofoam and attach the FSLace designs with pins after rinsing out the water soluble stabilizer. Works great
The styrofoam sheets can be purchased at most craft stores in different sizes.
You can get styrofoam eggs too and use these to shape and dry FS Lace christmas ornament ball covers too.
Also I use a kitchen bowl to lay a FS Lace Bowl over after the water soluble stabilizer is rinsed out so it dries to the shape of a bowl.
Comment by Denise Gartner — August 22, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Thanks for a great tip! I sometimes save the styrofoam blocks out of electronics packaging to work with too. As a warning… be absolutely sure you are using rust-free pins! Years ago I crocheted snowflakes out of size 10 bedspread cotton, soaked them in a stiffening agent, pinned them to a board to dry & by the time I got back to them (duh) they were ruined with rust. That was *years* ago so maybe pins don’t rust anymore but just be careful.
Comment by Spider3 — August 22, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
This method sounds just BRILLIANT. . . over the years I have used every technique you can imagine but this one seems like the PERFECT solution!! I can hardly wait to try it out!!
Comment by hark — August 23, 2009 @ 10:37 am
What a nice idea. I have to press my fsl after drying to straighten it. Your idea will eliminate that step. Thank you. Bonnie
Comment by Bonnie — August 26, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
What a great idea, thank you
Comment by Marlene — August 27, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
An answer to Terri,
I would think that you are rinsing the FSL too well. I usually rinse only enough so that the piece will not feel tacky.
HTH
Bridgett
Comment by Bridgett — August 29, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
For Terri
If you want the lace to be stiff just run the design under the tap just untill the stabilizer disappears. This only takes a moment and then let it dry flat. The less you rinse out the stiffer the lace will be.
Comment by Denise Gartner — September 2, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
If you know the butcher in your local grocery store you may be able to sweet talk him or her into donating some in various sizes. I’m going to sweet talk mine tomorrow.
Comment by Lee — September 10, 2009 @ 7:46 pm