Choosing Lace for Your Project

Choosing Lace for Your Project

Whether lace is worn on a wedding dress, blouse, or hat, it adds beauty and elegance. The type of lace fabric you choose, however, can make or break your project. There are many different types of lace, and each has its own unique style and look. When choosing a lace to work with, consider its size, shape, and texture. Often, the lace you select will also dictate what sort of stitching it will require or even what lining it is best suited to.

Lace fabrics can be made of any material, but most are made from linen or cotton. They can be hand-woven or machine-made. The color and luster of the yarns used affect the fabric's look, texture, and strength. The yarns may be dyed before or after weaving or knitting. The lace textile can be embroidered with needles (needle lace) or by bobbins (bobbin lace). It can also be formed into shapes or cut into patterns by hand or by machine.

The most common lace is a net-based fabric with designs embroidered on it. A lacemaker can also create three-dimensional applique motifs in needle or bobbin lace, as well as a wide variety of other styles. In the past, lacemaking was done entirely by hand. Today, many laces are made on huge machines. In one day a machine can produce a piece of lace that would have taken six months to make by hand.

Embroidered lace can be made of a wide range of threads and fibers, and the motifs can be simple or complex. Some lace is decorated with beads, sequins, and other small objects. Other lace has embroidery that forms borders or fills in space within the motif. Many lacemakers use a combination of stitches to create the desired effect.

There are several ways to care for lace, but in general it should be hand-washed in cold water and hung to dry on a towel. It is important to do this to remove any chemicals that may have been added in the manufacturing process. It is also helpful to let lace "breathe" by laying it flat on a surface for overnight or for several hours.

During the Renaissance, lacemaking was most commonly done in convents, since nuns had the time, patience, and skill to do this intricate work. Some of the earliest specimens of Italian lace are priceless altar cloths and vestments still stored in cathedrals. In the 17th century the city of Burano became a major center of needle lace making, and it is still known for its fine quality products. The lacemakers are especially skilled because they learn their craft from a very young age. When girls reach the age of eight they go each afternoon to a school that teaches them all aspects of lacemaking. The result is that each piece of Burano lace has a unique character.