Detailed Instruction for Making The Book Cover
1. Embroider all lace designs that you will need for assembling the project, using 2-3 layers of water-soluble fabric, on lowest speed your machine allows.
The number of Water Soluble Backing layers depends on type of backing you use, and on design density; for these Daffodils 2 layers of fabric WSB have been used.
Attention: It may seem to you that one layer of strong WSB is enough. Yet, many machines start breaking thread terribly, when only one layer on WSB is used. We've noticed that often an extra layer of water-soluble just solves this problem. So avoid trying to save an extra layer, even if your WSB is very strong. And if you still see many thread breaks with 2 layers - try to add a third one.
It's best to embroider each section in separate hoop. For each design, try to pick up the smallest suitable hoop you can.
Make sure that hooped WSB can't move, even slightly. If your hoop is far from perfect, and holds fabric badly - consider purchasing a new hoop with special metal spins. This is quite a small expense that can take your embroidery to a totally new level. Most machine dealers now carry those wonderful new hoops with spins. As a temporary solution, you can wrap a paper towel around one hoop frame, to add friction and prevent your backing from moving.
After you've stitched the lace pieces, cut away large edges of water soluble backing around each design, leaving about 1 inch from each side, like this:
2. Measure your book width, height and depth. Mark and cut the fabric you've prepared for the cover. It should be approx. two inches higher than your book, and 2 3/4 times wider.
3. Turn fabric edges twice inside, 1/2 inch each turn, pin and sew all around the border with running stitch:
4. Position the fabric over your book, exactly like the cover will be, and pin the laces over front and backsides, exactly where you want them to be:
5. Sew the laces onto the fabric base, using regular running stitch. Use same thread color like on the design top. Use invisible thread ONLY if you have absolutely no choice.
6. Cut away the fabric inside the areas where lace designs are attached, from the back side, close to the edge:
7. Sew around the lace edge again, using relatively dense short zigzag stitch, to prevent fabric edges from unraveling.
8. Put the almost ready cover on your book, again. Pin the spots where the fabric should be sewn to make cover "pockets", and sew the pockets on your machine:
9. Sew on a decorative ribbon over the cover, and wash away the water-soluble fabric. Be sure to wash it away carefully, without stretching or deforming the lace. If you want the lace to be as soft as possible - you may even leave the item in warm water for half an hour or so, to make all water soluble substance go away. Once the backing dissolves, position the item on plain surface covered by a towel, straighten the lace with your fingers to make sure it gets back to its ideal shape. Let the item dry. You may use iron & towel to speed up the process.
10. Ready!
To make similar projects, make sure you have the following supplies available:
Book Cover Daffodil Lace designs or other Lace Design Sets.
Strong, not stretchy Polyester Thread or Top and Bobbin Thread in matching colors.
Water-soluble backing - preferably fabric-type water-soluble stabilizer.
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