HOW TO SHAPE LACE

1. Lace shaping is most easily done on a padded ironing surface that you can pin into. Your ironing board will do. Lace shaping boards are also available. Others stack several pieces of cardboard together, wrap batting and cover with an old cotton pillowcase. Work short sections at a time, perhaps two scallops at a time, following steps 2-10.

2. Place the skirt fabric right side up on the padded surface with the lace loop at the center. Pull the fabric gently taut and hold in place with glass head pins.

3. Measure a 55-inches length of lace insertion but do not cut the lace, leaving the remaining insertion attached. Fold the 55-inches section in half to find center and place to the top center of the lace loop. With the lace between the template lines, pin the lace “heading” to the outer template line, sticking the pins into the lace, fabric and padded surface. All pins should be placed at an angle with the heads of the pins close to the fabric. Continue pinning the outer heading to the outer loop template line, pinning into the lace, fabric and padded surface. The inside of the lace loop will be floppy and remain unpinned (photo 2).

Photo 2

4. Continue pinning the lace to the template along the lower curve of the scallop. When you reach the miter use the following directions:

fig. a

a. Allow the lace to extend past the miter line (fig. a).

b. Place a pin through the lace heading/fabric/padded surface at the outside point and the inside point of the miter (fig. a).

c. Fold the lace back on itself giving the lace a tiny tug to snug the lace against the outside pin (fig. b).

fig. b

d. Press the fold with your finger, then unpin and re-pin the inside pin back to the miter line at the inside point through both layers of lace and into fabric and padded surface (fig b).

 

e. Unfold and start down the next scallop revealing a perfect miter in the lace at the point (fig. c).

fig. c

Lace Shaping Rule:

When shaping lace into a curve, always pin the outside edge of the lace to the outside edge of the template curve. In this case, you will be pinning the lace along the outside of the loop and along the lower edge of each scallop (photo 3).

Photo 3
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