The Essential Guide to Sewing With Lace with Alison Smith

GUIDE TO LACES & SUPPLIES

ABOUT LACES • Guipure lace: Today's guipure
laces are embroidered on a
Many of today’s laces no longer
Schiffli machine on soluble
fall into specific categories; mod-
backing, hence no netting.
ern manufacturing methods now
Some laces are fine, whilst
allow us to have beautiful fabrics
others can be bold in coarse
that are not type-specific. When
yarns.
is a lace not a lace? For example,
is an embroidered organza also Suggested Fabrics for Backing or
lace? Technically, no, but the Underlining Lace
techniques in this class will apply • Silk organza
to this type of fabric too. Enjoy • Silk chiffon
discovering the world of lace! • Silk duppioni
• Cotton voile
Types of Lace
• Satin-back crepe
• Alençon lace: Individual
• Taffeta
motifs are outlined with a
• Tulle
heavy thread and can be cut
out. Typically this is used for
SUPPLIES FOR SEWING LACE
bridal and special occasion
wear and is more delicate • All-purpose sewing thread
than Chantilly lace. • Tacking (basting) thread
• All-over lace: Repetitive all- • Appliqué scissors
over pattern with selvages • Hand-sewing needles
often unfinished. This is an • Machine needles, size 70 – 90
inexpensive type of lace often depending on thickness of lace
used for day wear. • Lace pins (bridal/silk pins)
• Beaded lace: A tulle or net • Glass-head pins
backing with machine- • Presser foot with an open toe,
embroidered motifs that have such as a satin-stitch foot
then been beaded. It usually • Press cloth (silk organza)
has a decorative edge. • Tear-away fusible stabilizer (to
• Chantilly lace: A heavier lace back appliqués when stitching)
with the motifs outlined in
a heavy cord, on a netted
backing and is often beaded.
This is frequently used for
bridal wear.
• Cluny lace: A cotton lace that
is much more coarse than
other lace and is primarily
made as an edging.

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 The Essential Guide to Sewing With Lace with Alison Smith

RESOURCES
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE • The Fancy Silk Store: RECOMMENDED READING
fancysilkstore.co.uk
School of Sewing, Alison Smith, • Couture Sewing Techniques
MBE: schoolofsewing.co.uk United States by Claire Schaeffer (Taunton
• Allyns Fabric & Bridal Supply: Press, revised and updated
LACE SUPPLIERS allyns.co edition, 2011)
United Kingdom • Mendel Goldberg Fabrics: • Dressmaking: The Complete
• Broadwick Silks: mendelgoldbergfabrics.com Step-by-Step Guide to Making
broadwicksilks.com • Mood Fabrics: Your Own Clothes by Alison
• London: Assorted fabric shops moodfabrics.com Smith (DK Publishing, 2012)
on Goldhawk Road

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