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Sewing With Lace

Does Lace Remind You of Weddings, Christenings, Candlelight Dinners and Romance? . . . Well, You’re Not Alone. Discover How To Use This Beautiful, Delicate and Romantic Fabric Called Lace.   

Lace finishing give such a beautiful, delicate and romantic look to pillows, bedroom accessories, garments, children’s clothing, etc. A simple lace trimming can create a whole new look. 

All-over lace, cut like fabric, must have its edges finished. 

Hemstitch and picot or sew on lace picot edging by hand with tiny running stitches. Roll raw edge on wrong side. 

Stitch near edge and hand roll edge to inside.  

To gather lace, pull thread at the straight edge to desired fullness, or whipstitch over edge, pulling up thread every few stitches to gather. Usually twice as much lace as the space to which it is to be applied is used.

To make a lace insertion, baste lace onto right side. Use a satin stitch or fine running stitch at joining. Cut away fabric underneath, and hand roll raw edges, catching in lace. Or, appliqué with zigzag stitching, the machine zigzagger, hemming, over-handing, or blanket stitching. To put a lace insertion in lace fabric, overcast or zigzag stitch.  

To turn corners, make a miter with tiny, close, overcastting stitches so that the effect is like a fine cord. Cut away excess. Or, make little pleats around corners, preserving the curve. 

To join lace, match the design and overhand. Applying lace to garment / sewing project for decorative effects: Use one of the following methods: 

On raw edge, apply lace right sides together, straight edge of lace 1/16 inch beyond seam line. Stitch on seam line, turn back hem and stitch or hem by hand. 

On finished edge, baste lace to edge and stitch. Attach lace on right or wrong side. 

Overhand loosely to finish hem. 

 Apply laced on right side ¼ inch from edge with tiny running stitches. Roll raw edge on wrong side. 

French hem: Turn in raw edge ¼ inch, ½ inch below fold, crease material and bring to fold, forming a small pleat on wrong side. Overhand lace to folded edges. 

On scalloped or irregular edge, baste lace on to right side with very careful basting line. On inside, overhand along basting line so that effect is like fine cord. 

With entre-deux, hand roll hem, catching in margin and lace. 

Sewing with lace is the 'final chapter' in Finishing Touches sewing tips.