• The thread used is important. Regular polyester or cotton-covered polyester sewing thread is simply too stiff and heavy to give good results. Madeira Tanne 80, a very soft, fine thread, is good to use for embellishment. Mettler 60 is a slightly heavier thread that is also suitable, and a little easier for both you and your machine to work with; it should be used in both the needle and the bobbin. The thread should also match the color of the lace.
• A small needle to go with the fine thread is also important. For the following techniques, use a new size 70 universal needle and make sure your machine is clean, oiled and running smoothly.
• The stitch settings given are not absolutes. Different machines stitch out differently. Use the settings given as starting points, adjust up or down as needed and use what works best for you.
• In many cases, heirloom techniques are used to create fabric blocks or fancy bands that are slightly larger than needed from which garment pieces or fancy bands are then cut or trimmed to size.
Lace to entredeux |
1. Starch entredeux well, and press dry. This is important, because it helps to pre-shrink entredeux. If this step is omitted, when the piece with entredeux stitched into it is washed, entredeux will shrink and pucker fabric.
Photo 1 |
3. With lace and entredeux both right sides up, butt trimmed edge of entredeux to heading of lace insertion.
Photo 2 |
Gathered lace to entredeux |
Gathered lace to entredeux:
1. Trim waste fabric from one side of entredeux.
2. Gather lace to desired fullness to fit entredeux strip by pulling the uppermost thread in lace header. Pin strip of gathered lace to ironing board or padded surface right side up. Adjust gathers evenly.
3. Cut a piece of Tiger Tape the length of gathered lace strip. Tape strips may also be cut in shorter lengths if you are curving the gathered lace or applying tape to a very long strip of lace.
4. Stick Tiger Tape to gathered lace strip just below lace header (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch from the lace header edge). This will hold lace gathers in place as you stitch lace to entredeux.
5. Set tension settings to normal balance. Place matching lightweight thread in bobbin and needle. Thread should match entredeux and lace.
Photo 3 |
Photo 4 |
Be sure to check out Favorite Heirloom Sewing Designs for more heirloom projects and techniques! Create your own work of art using the patterns we've provided or use this issue as the catalyst to revisit your heirloom pattern stash to find your favorites.
Sew On, Sew Well, Sew Beautiful,
Cyndi and Amelia
Great tutorial, thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's marvelous.....
ReplyDeleteparty dresses
I want to know where in USA you can get the entre 2 lace to do a dress for a little girl of 7 years old?
ReplyDeleteMost of these beautiful supplies must be ordered. However, if you do a google search for heirloom sewing supplies you can find many places where you can buy them in a store, as well as online.
Delete