Two weeks ago, we began an exploration of lace fabrics and their usage. Today, we shall conclude our fabric expose on Lace.
GEORGIAN LACE
This is a popular fabric among the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria. They are raised motifs embellished with beads and sequins on a velvet, voile, or synthetic fabric background, often polyester (beaten to have a shiny look). The patterns are sometimes done on the bottom of the fabric with little flowering patterns dotting the upper parts, but more expensive George laces are now made with overall embellishment, giving them a heavily corded feel and attractive appearances. They are mostly worn during important celebrations by this particular group of people, and sometimes, others who fall in love with the tasteful fabric.
CROCHETED LACE
Crocheted lace fabrics are handmade motifs without any ground mesh. Made earlier by the Irish as a needlework imitation of the more expensive Venetian lace, it gained its own market with its intricately beautiful designs. Although not so much in vogue as other popular laces, the crocheted lace is still used as lace trims and appliques in sewing.
EMBROIDERY LACE
The embroidered lace fabric is a very fine handmade embroidery done in intricate patterns and designs. The patterns are connected by thick cords and can be made as lace trims,
CORD LACE
Cord lace fabrics are intricately embroidered designs done in colourful silk threads that are thickly woven and tightly spaced to resemble cords. Original cord laces are expensive and fine to the touch, but there are affordable ones that do not last as long as the threads pull.
They are popular lace fabrics for wedding dresses.
COTTON LACE
This lace fabric is made from pure cotton and woven into different patterns and designs, with or without a ground mesh. These are usually soft to the touch and are used as lace trims and appliques.
Now that you feel like you know and can distinguish lace fabrics from the other, here are a few laundry tips to help you maintain them:
- Make sure to tumble-dry in the delicate or gentle cycle if you are using a machine during laundry. If hand-washing, dry out of direct sunlight so as to prevent your lace fabric from fading.
- When you are done dry-cleaning, store in soft tissue bags to keep them protected from dust and other fabrics that may pull on the embellishments when folded together in your closet.
- Although lace fabrics are mostly wrinkle-free, linings after sewing tend to roughen up after washing. This is why when press ironing, turn them inside-out, as embellishments tend to fray or melt when heated.
Click here to see other lace fabrics or here for more laundry tips for your
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