Working with Lace and Tulle:
I am currently working on a commission to adjust a wedding dress for a lovely bride.
The task involves reshaping the back and repositioning some of the appliqué pieces,
(small floral motifs) back onto the dress.
Tools and equipment: A selection of hand sewing fine pointed needles, suitable threads, pins or fabric weights, embroidery scissors, an un-picker (useful for unpicking seams or appliqué pieces from the surface of the fabric) and an iron.
Always have good source of light, preferably daylight.
My tip is avoid wearing jewellery or applying hand cream/perfume onto my hands whilst working with delicate fabrics. This prevents any snags, damage or contamination. If you must wear hand cream, then apply as little as possible.
Prepare and work on a clean flat surface, keeping your scissors and other sewing equipment away from the fabric to avoid any accidents.
If you have to iron flat your lace or tulle, make sure you use a low heat setting on your iron. Don't put it on a steam setting, because lace can easily burn. I tend to place my fabric in between pure cotton fabric or calico, and then iron flat carefully, section by section.
Select a fine tipped universal hand sewing needle (I use Sharps by John James Needles: www.jjneedles.com ) from one of the following sizes: 7, 8 or 9. The sharp point of the needle will prevent any tear or damage to the fabric.
Select your sewing thread, polyester/cotton, silk that matches the colour of your lace (or tulle) or even use an invisible thread. (I am using an invisible thread because the fabric is very fine and I do not want to see any trace of a stitch line).
Unpick the appliqué piece gently.
Reposition (if desired) and carefully pin or use small fabric weights to hold the piece flat on the surface of the lace or tulle.
Handle your fabric with care when sewing an appliqué or seam. Use small running or slip stitch and also ensure that there are long thread trails at the start and the end of what you are working on. When you have finished sewing, you can then tie each end with a fine knot on the inner section of your work, (in my case the bridal dress) and then cut the excess threads off with a pair of embroidery scissors.
When you have completed your design work, always pack your work away in a dust free bag. This will help to keep your fabric neat and fresh.
Finish and be proud of your achievement!
Comments