Can you give us a little bit more detail? Are we talking little triangle to let out a bodice or enormous triangle to let out the skirt? It would also be useful to know if the dress is fitted/tailored ie a firm fabric like satin, or soft and gauzey and draped so we have an idea of how substantial the lace needs to be.
Do you have some matching fabric to put behind the lace, or only a poor match that the lace needs to conceal to some extent? Is there any other lace already on the dress that needs to be taken into account when you are designing/choosing the lace for the triangle? What is your time frame for the project? Out of curiosity, is this for family, friend or a commision! One thing you might consider is using a bought net fabric as the base and then embellishing it. This could be done in many ways; needle run embroidery or tambouring, both much quicker than bobbin and needlelace. Sewn on motifs, either made by you, cut and appliqued from machine made yard lace or bought as motifs to supplement if time is tight; if you watch e-bay you can get old machine and hand made ones cheaper than less attractive modern ones. Continuous lace insertions and edges sewn onto the net to enhance the shape, the ends could probably be concealed in the seams at the edges of the triangles. Again, watch out for old lace at thrift shops, flea markets or e-bay as it has a different 'feel' to it than all but the most expensive modern bought lace yardage, and blends in well with your own handmade lace. Combinations of the above would be perfectly accceptable and relieve the tedium of working loads all the same. By choosing an appropriate size and weight net, thread and additions the project could suit either a solid or flimsy garment. If the dress is made of a reasonably light weight fabric and you have enough matching fabric or can get a good complementary one then all or part of the triangle could consist of bands of embellished fabric - pin tucks, drawn/pulled thread work, embroidered strips, ruched strips (of fabric and net). Have a look at heirloom sewing websites for ideas. So long as you are competent with a zigzag sewing machine you should find that heirloom sewing techniques work up a lot quicker than making lace, but would allow you to incorporate however much lace you have time to work But what ever you settle on, do a bit of the same for other parts of the dress, so the addition looks part of the whole rather than an alteration. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
