Lace

Stylish fabric with elegant patterns

Few fabrics are as recognizable as lace. The elegant patterns in the fabric give every garment made of it a particularly stylish look. There are several ways to make lace. Patterns can be woven into the fabric, but threads can also be removed from the weave to create patterns. Lace can also be made by attaching sequins, pearls, or beads to the fabric, as is often seen in lace trims. In the past, lace was a precious fabric worn almost exclusively by the nobility. Nowadays, the fabric can be machine-woven, and is thus more affordable.

Another characteristic of lace is its transparency. This is due to the open nature of the fabric. As a result, lace has become a popular fabric for sexy lingerie and nightwear over the years. But that is certainly not the only advantage lace has. By combining the fabric with non-transparent fabrics, beautiful evening wear can be made. The material is also commonly used to make bridal wear more elegant. Some people even use lace for home decoration. It has truly become a versatile fabric over the years.

Originally, lace was made from linen or silk, sometimes in combination with gold or silver thread. There are still crafters today who make the fabric by hand, but modern affordable lace is usually made from synthetic fibers. Most of the lace fabrics in our range are largely made of polyamide, with Spandex fibers to improve the stretch of the fabrics. However, we also offer lace that is made of a combination of polyamide, Spandex, and cotton. The fabric is available in various colors. This allows you to create beautiful clothing with a contemporary look.

Lace fabrics for everyone

There is some uncertainty about the exact origin of lace, but it seems that the fabric was first made in the 15th century in Flanders or Venice. Initially, the fabric was mainly used to decorate the edges of underwear that could be seen under outerwear. The decoration on these edges became increasingly complex. Later, a larger part of clothing was made of lace. For example, there were lace scarves, which some judges still wear today. Large lace collars, known in Dutch as "molensteenkragen," are also well known. These were made of batiste with lace decoration.

When lace was only made by hand, it was an extremely expensive fabric and therefore reserved for very wealthy people. This was partly because lace was very difficult to make. Furthermore, very expensive fabrics were generally used. In addition, lace could not be too dry, as the threads would break, and the most expensive fabrics were made of very thin threads. Today, there are still people who crochet lace. Because it is now possible to machine-weave lace, beautiful clothing is now available to everyone.

Although lace is no longer only for the very wealthy, many people still believe that the fabric has a chic appearance. Or a daring look, which comes from the association with lingerie. The range of lace is now larger and more varied than ever before. This makes it possible to find a beautiful lace fabric for almost every occasion and application. From everyday to festive or sexy and from decorative clothing edges to complete blouses or shirts: lace makes everything more beautiful.

Making and caring for clothing with lace

Because lace is a very thin fabric, it is easy to cut. However, be careful to cut all parts of the fabric in the same direction so that the patterns form a harmonious whole. Sewing such a thin fabric requires the thinnest possible needle, with a thickness of no more than 80. Stitches of 2 millimetres in a narrow zigzag stitch are usually sufficient, but you can also stitch the material with a French seam. The advantage of this is that the edges do not need to be finished. If they do need to be finished, we have a wide range of haberdashery items to suit.

Most of the lace fabrics in our range consist mainly of polyamide and can therefore be machine washed. However, be careful not to exceed a temperature of 40 degrees. This is also due to the Spandex fibers that make the fabric stretch, which cannot withstand high temperatures. For the same reason, it is not recommended to put lace in the dryer. Instead, let the fabric air dry so you don't have to worry about it shrinking. Ironing is possible at a low temperature, but in most cases it will not be necessary.

Buying lace online

Whether you want to make elegant evening wear, unforgettable bridal wear, sexy lingerie, or light summer clothing, lace is the perfect fabric. The material can also be used to give clothing that is otherwise too plain a decorative edge. You can find this fabric in various colors and with different patterns in the webshop of Quality Textiles. If you are unsure about the patterns in the fabric, take a look at our selection of tulle, crepe, or organza. These are all thin fabrics that can make clothing more decorative.