The Not Free-Standing Frame
This tutorial covers Two Types of Embroidery Frames
Free-Standing Frames & Not Free-Standing Frames
Note: The Free-Standing Frames in this tutorial are not free-standing lace.
However, I do have a free-standing lace frame here.
Pictures in this tutorial are from Lacy Heart Frames Collection
Sewing the Embroidery
Following the directions that came with the designs, prepare the fabric, and hoop it with the additional stabilizers noted.
If using the single corners, sew 4 repeats. Be sure 2 of them are the mirror image designs**. That’s why they are there.
If using the special left/right side designs (requires 6×11 hoop) then sew two repeats. One being the mirror image of the other**.
**Note: The two sides of the corners are not identical. Each side is a different design. Hence, the mirror image designs.
Follow the thread changes listed in the document.
This method does not use fusible stabilizer at the end because these designs will not be faced. And the last color change is skipped
Shown here on the Navy pillow project

Laura’s Notions
After the embroidery is sewn, cut out the 4 blocks (or the 2 rectangles if you used those two) using ½-inch seam allowance along the sides that will be the inside of the frame.
The size of the fabric outside the frame is however large you want it to be. My navy pillow top is cut 2 ½ inches larger outside the embroidered frame.
Half-inch seam allowances are easier to press open. Pressing the seams open creates a flatter surface for adding the design to the center.
This diagram shows how to position the four squares and the ½-inch seam allowances.

Make sure the two ends of each corner match the ends of the corners they will be sewn to. As noted above, the two sides of the corners are not identical. Each side is a different design. Hence, the mirror image designs.
Right sides together, sew corners 1 & 2 together along this line. This is the top of the frame.
Repeat for the corners 3 & 4. This is the bottom of the frame
Right sides together, sew the top and bottom together the same way.
Press the seams open. See Part 4 for details about pressing.
Once pressed the frame is finished and ready to add the center design.
This diagram shows the two special designs for the smaller embroidery frame. This frame accommodates a 6×6 center design or smaller.
These two designs are sewn in the 8×11 frame.
This is the designs I used for the navy pillow project.

Right sides together, sew the center ½-inch seam

Press – see Part 4 for details about pressing.

The size of the fabric outside the frame is however large you want it to be. My navy pillow top is cut 2 ½ inches larger outside the embroidered frame.
Now the frame is finished and ready to receive the center design.
The center design can be sew directly onto the center fabric or appliquéd to it. My navy center design was already stitched so I appliquéd it to the center. see Part 2 for how I did this and how I made the design “poof”.