Lace

Is there any fabric more romantic than lace? Lace can be simple, or it can be complex. We can find laces that include beading, embroidery, ribbon, or sequins as accents. Lace can be an impact fabric for our garments; a lace garment will always be noticed! While we look to lace for our most elegant and special creations, the current styles include lace in more casual, daily settings. Lace is incredibly versatile, and super-easy to sew.

Machine wash, cold water, no bleach. Machine dry, or lay flat to dry.

For most laces, a size 12/80 universal needle is perfect for construction. Use cotton, cotton/polyester, polyester, or silk thread for construction.

Seams can be stitched with traditional straight stitches. Seam finishes are not necessary; lace does not ravel. However, if you prefer a finished edge for aesthetic reasons, try a bound edge, using the lightest weight binding possible. Hems are often created by simply using the edge of the fabric, if the edge is decorative or scalloped in shape. If the edge is not decorative, the hem edge can be left raw.

Fusibles are not recommended. Use silk organza, lining fabric, or tulle as your sewn-in interfacing for lace.

Skirts, dresses, jackets, trench coats (a current popular favorite), evening wear, blouses, bustiers, lingerie, wedding garments, vests, wraps, cardigans, tees.

Pair lace with other fabrics for interest and impact. Some of my favorite pairings for lace are denim, velvet, and satin. Lace also works well as an overlay on wool fabrics. Another possibility is to use a print fabric as the lining for lace skirts or pants. The lace overlay will add a secondary texture to the garment.

For a truly elegant garment, use an appliqué seam finish. Mark the location of the seam on both layers of the garment, then cut away around the motifs of the lace. Layer one side of the lace on top of the other layer, and zigzag around the lace motifs. Cut away the excess from the top layer, then carefully trim away the excess from the lower layer. This creates an almost invisible seam, reflective of the most elegant and expensive lace garments.