Different Types Of Lace – Find The Best Types Of Laces For Your Dress
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Lace is one of those fabric decoration options that never went out of style. Designers use lace to style almost every attire starting from wedding gowns to daily wears. In the machine’s age, it might be hard to believe that people initially made most types of laces by hand. However, handicrafts are sometimes lost to the efficiency and affordability of machine-made laces. At present, one can find various types of laces with different patterns, widths, and shades. But in this article, we will discuss the top types of laces that have gained importance since their origin.
1. Alencon Or French Embroidered Lace
The Alencon or the French Embroidered Lace is a beautiful embellished type of lace with raised motifs on a sheer background. We use Cordonnet (heavy silk cords) to outline the motifs to give the design a dimension and beads to embellish it.
Since industrialization, people manufacture almost everything in the factory nowadays. However, one can differentiate an authentic French Alencon Lace from a factory manufactured copies is by noticing the width. The authentic lace will be 36 inches, and the copy of the French Embroidered Alencon lace will be 60 inches wide. Usually, we use this type of lace in bridal attire like gowns or veils, and even though it is expensive, they are worth spending money on.
2. Chantilly Lace
Chantilly Lace is the type of lace with delicate flower designs sewn with faux silk threads to a net background. Even though the Chantilly Lace’s design has evolved to become versatile in modern times, originally, this lace was made using black silk threads only.
Another feature of the original Chantilly Lace was the scalloped edges that made the fabric look even more elegant and beautiful. Galloon lace is another variation of the Chantilly Lace, where both the edges are scallop trimmed.
3. Crocheted Lace
Even though this lace was created in an attempt to imitate the more expensive Venetian Lace, the resulting Irish Crocheted Lace found a reputation of its own. Crochet Lace is one of those very few types of laces that are still made by hands in today’s age.
Since we use cotton fibers to make the Irish Crocheted Lace that is why the design is a bit heavier yet very elegant and unique. The machine-made Irish Crocheted Laces are available in various colors because the cotton threads are easier to dye.
4. Edging Lace
The type of lace trim with one scalloped edge and the other side is straight is called the Edging Lace. The straight edge of this lace type often comes with a thread used to collect or gather the fabric.
French edging lace also falls under this lace category, and it usually has small circular openings to allow ribbons to thread through the lace trim. Another edging lace type is Flounce that has a wider edge.
5. Insertion Lace
As the name suggests, designers use the Insertion Lace strip to sew between two fabric pieces or stitched on top of the fabric to create an illusion of insertion. Since both edges of this lace trim are the same, that is why it easily fits between fabric panels.
To attach this lace to the main piece of fabric, you can use either a straight or a zig-zag stitching style. The design of the Insertion Lace is very intricate and is often used to decorate plain garments.
6. Nylon Lace
Nylon Lace is the most affordable and widely available type of lace. The lace is machine made using naturally woven fibers. This synthetic lace comes with a scalloped or embroidered lace edge and a straight sewing edge. The Nylon Lace is an artificial or imitation lace referred to as the Chemical Lace for being made using fine silk grounds, polyester, or embroidered cotton.
7. Ric Rac Lace
As the name sounds, the Ric-Rac Lace is very fancy indeed. Often designers make this type of zig-zag lace pattern on cotton, silk, or metallic fabrics and use it to insert into the seam or accenting edges. This lace trim is a cheerful yet cheap decorative option for your designs.
8. Swiss Entredeux
Swiss Entredeux is the type of lace design pattern made on a cotton batiste strip (a type of soft fine cotton strip), and that looks similar to a ladder with evenly spaced out holes. One can trim the plain batiste seams on both sides of the ladder-like embroidered lace strip after stitching it onto the main fabric to style it up.
9. Tattle Lace Or Shuttle Lace
To create the Tattle or Shuttle Lace, one has to use the particular delicate knotted lace-making technique. Designers use a special cotton thread to form a warp and weft of knots in the lace pattern. The looping and knotting process creates the intricate and beautiful design of the Tattle Lace to decorate handkerchiefs, pillowcases, collars, etc.
10. Venice Lace Or Venetian Lace
Unlike other lace designs, the Venetian Lace embroideries are not done on a mesh background, and that is why it is also called Guipure Lace that means ‘a lace without any netted background.’ Heavy raised floral and geometric designs are stitched onto the fine lace fabric to create the Venice Lace. Even though the machine-made Venetial Lace might seem reasonable, it cannot beat the authentic touch of the handmade Venetian Lace that is more costly.
We only discussed in details the top ten lace types; however, some of the other types of laces that too deserve mention are:
- All Over Lace Or Embroidered Net
- Broderie Anglaise
- Beaded Lace Trim
- Cotton Beaded Lace
- Elastic Lace
- Gathered Lace
- Lace Applique
- Metallic Beaded Lace
- Ribbon Pass Lace
- Smocked Lace
- Tassel Lace Trim
Conclusion:
Lace will always enhance your designs’ style and add a sense of luxury to creations. Lace is a valuable addition to garments and is often used to decorate curtains, cushions, lampshades, bags, etc.
Hope the top ten types of lace in this article comes to use for you.
