Whether you are working with lace for pleasure or business, this is a beautiful fabric that offers many wonderful possibilities. There is a reason why white lace fabric wedding dresses are so expensive. Working with this fabric is a time-consuming process, that requires skill and dedication. It is highly labour-intensive, with couture sewing techniques applied to the construction. But the end results are so worth it.
What is lace fabric?
The lace industry that has been around for centuries. In its most defined form, fabric lace is a beautiful and delicate textile. It has a distinct web-like open construct, made from yarn or thread. The most common yarns used in it are cotton, silk, and linen. They are looped, braided, and twisted to give lace its unique attributes.
Synthetic yarns are also widely used, above all in modern manufacturing. In the most common uses, the yarns are dyed white, which gives the fabric a sense of purity and innocence.
What is lace used for?
White lace fabric is perhaps the most well-known and widely used type. It is a much-loved fabric choice when it comes to wedding dresses, adding elegance and refinement, combining traditional values with modern interpretations. White lace is easy to combine with other fabric, making it versatile and appealing to dressmakers.
It is often dyed into other colours, for fashion and interiors. Black lace fabric is a popular option in the fashion industry, as is grey lace fabric. Because of their more sombre tones, these colour options can add edge and attitude to the delicate fabric, creating an intriguing juxtaposition. Black lace fabric fused with a floral construct nods to the Gothic fashion trend, which is popular most autumn and winter seasons.
What are the different types of lace fabric?
There are several types of lace. They range in colour and in construction, based on where the lace is made. The different styles are classified depending on their manufacturing process. These include:
- Knitted lace – so fine that is can be pulled through an item as small as a wedding ring (hence “wedding ring shawl”)
- Tape lace – makes the tape in the lace as it is worked; can be made by machine or hand. This is then joined and embellished with needle or bobbin lace
- Bobbin lace – made with bobbins and a pillow. Chantilly lace is a sub-form
- Needle lace – made using a needle and thread. Seen as the highest form of lace making
- Crochet lace
- Knotted lace – includes macramé
- Cutwork – constructed by removing threads from a woven background. The threads that remain are filled with embroidery. Embroidered lace fabric is a constant popular choice for interiors and fashion. N.B. embroidered lace fabric is different from embroidery
Its history and origin
Experts often dispute the history of lace and its origins. There is evidence that points to Italian claims of the invention of lace in 1493. However, there is also a Flemish claim from 1485, and it is often impossible to say it originated in just one place.
Lace developed rapidly, both in construction and in demand in the late 16th century. The most popular types at this point were needle and bobbin lace. Particularly fashion and interiors were embellished with it. Clothing details such as collars and cuffs were enhanced with the fabric, and were seen as a symbol of wealth and style.
How to work with lace at home
The mesh-like appearance of lace gives the fabric a delicate and feminine aesthetic. It is important to know how to handle and work with it.
There is no doubt that lace looks and feels gorgeous. However, to get to the final result takes a LOT of work, and most seamstresses find it the most time-consuming and laborious of fabrics to sew. You need patience and planning. There is a big difference between making lace from scratch, and working with it. Before you start sewing with lace, it is vitally important to ensure you have the right tools to hand.
You will need:
- Fine sewing pins
- The correct needles. They need to be super sharp and if you are working with stretchy lace fabric, you will also need stretch needles
- A sewing machine with the right settings. To sew with lace, you will need a sewing machine that will sew in a zigzag or else a serger machine to sew the seams
- A full pattern piece – to achieve a seamless look, each pattern piece you use needs to be a full pattern piece. Cut it on a single layer of lace. This is so important, as it allows you to match motifs when planning to cut your lace
Prepare the fabric
We always recommend to pre-wash your fabric, to get rid of any substances left over from the factory. You should also lay it out on a flat surface so it can stretch and breathe. Try leaving it over night or for several hours, so any wrinkles can relax and fall out.
Once your lace is ready, you need to determine the type you have. Depending on which lace you are working with, you will need to adopt the correct technique for sewing. These are:
- Sheer lace – this style of lace is very transparent and it will require a lining
- Fully patterned lace – it is possible that this style will need to be partly lined
- Stretchy lace fabric – slightly more complex, as this style requires a technique for both the lace and the stretch
Remember, whatever type you are working with, needs to be considered carefully. The outcome of your project will depend on the style of lace that you choose. Consider the borders, and how you want to use them to complete the design. Does it have a straight edge or a scalloped edge? This can help turn a sleeve or a hem into something entirely different. It is also important to consider the colour of the lining you want to use with your lace, as this will affect the entire look of your project. You always want to enhance the beauty of the fabric, never compete with it.
What to do with lace fabric?
There are so many different styles, constructs, and colours available, which is what makes lace such a versatile textile. Stretchy lace fabric, has elastane added to provide additional flexibility. This is a very popular material in the fashion industry. Stretchy lace fabric not only has the traditional aesthetic of fabric lace, but it has comfort and movement. Thus, making it an ideal textile to wear.
Some of the most popular uses include:
- Trimmings
- Appliques
- Clothing
- Wedding dresses
- Collars
- Brooches
- Table cloths
- Curtains
- Doilies
How lace is used these days
It is a popular fabric for clothing as well as interiors like curtains, drapes, throws, detailing and more. Lace drapery fabric can add distinction, sophistication, and effortless style to your home. When done in the right way, it can also be contemporary and fashionable. Long gone are the days of “old-fashioned” lace curtains. With modern designs and patterns, new life is breathed into fabric lace.
Working with lace might seem like quite a traditional concept, but it truly has its place in the modern world. Fashion and design students are working with this distinct fabric, using it in their creations and catapulting it into contemporary fashion design.
Does working with lace intrigue you? Feel the difference between the different types and explore over hundred other materials with your very own fabric swatch pack. Understand the texture, strength and finish of the fabrics by taking a hands on approach.
