Lace!

While I was teaching at the recent Sip and Sew I had the great pleasure of looking (and touching) beautiful lace that belonged to one of the women.  She told me it had been her Mother's and Grandmothers lace.

Exquisite Lace.

Gorgeous Lace.

Be still my heart…Lace!

Edging and Insertions.

Enough to do some very nice projects.

And I hope she does use some of it for very special garments.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

A Baby Shower Gift Set

A Wonderful Baby Shower Gift!!

I close my eyes and I can  imagine my Friends niece opening the box that holds this beautiful collection of Baby items!! 

What excitement!

Everything is beautiful all by itself.

Baby's Frist Daygowns

I am so pleased that my Friend used my Daygown Pattern.

I can see that she stitched the front facing down by hand.

She stitched tiny tucks at the yoke and embroidered Featherstitching between the Tuck Sets. 

 A Bullion Rosebud is nestled at the end of the Featherstitching.

She worked a Bullion Rosebud in each four hole button that closes the Daygown Front.

The neck is finished with entredeux and edged with Lilly of the Valley maline lace edging.  This same lace pattern had been gracing  sweet baby  garmets for many, many years!

She stitched matching embroidery along the hem of the slip!

I love the way the slip peeks out from under the Daygown.

The lace insertion that is stitched around the hem (as well as the Bonnet  lace) was passed down from  my Friends Grandmother.

You might remember her lace  from a previous post!

Lucky you, if you have such family treasures!!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2012 Jeannie Baumeister

Antique Lace and a Baby Bonnet

Lace belonged to Beatrice Elizabeth, born in 1905

My Friend has her Grandmothers lace.   Passed along by her mother. 

It is a fabulous treasure.

And she loves to share it with her family in the form of Baby Gifts.

This lace is as fine and luscious as it looks in this picture.

It came to her rolled on a wooden spool.

This is the lace she choose for the Baby Bonnet she is making her niece who is expecting a baby.

This baby will be the Great Great Granddaughter of Beatrice Elizabeth.

The fabric is a pale pink and the lace is antique white.

She used an OFB baby bonnet pattern. With fabric ties.

The lace will form the Bonnet Brim.

Outfit is still in progress but Baby Shower is coming soon!

The Bonnet is part of an entire ensemble to be given at her nieces Baby Shower.

Slip, Bonnet, Daygown, Booties and an amazing quilt.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2012 Jeannie Baumeister

Gathering Lace Evenly and Stitching it to Lace Insertion or Entredeux

To assure the lace is gathered evenly, divide the lace in half and also divide the area where the lace will be attached in half.  Then match them up.

Divide the piece of Lace Edging  in half and fasten a small safety pin at the half way point.  A safety pin is easy to see and doesn't move on you! Fasten a safety pin or mark the Lace Insertion or Entredeux at the half way point too.  I am using a French Baby Lace.  It has threads in the Lace Heading to gather.  When you purchase your lace be sure to buy the fine cotton lace (it might have about 10% nylon in it to strengthen it).

To gather lace, pull the very, very, very top thread in the lace heading.  If it doesn't pull easily, try a different thread.
Pull a thread in the lace heading (the straight part of the lace made up of several threads) to gather.  Pull very gently and don't be in a hurry or the thread might break.  If it does break, simply pick up a different thread to gather.

For more control of the gathers, pull up two or  three threads in the lace heading.

When pulling more than one thread to gather lace you must go very slowly.  Because more threads are used to gather it enables the gathers to stay in place much better than when only one thread is used. And because the gathers do not shift so readily, it is easier to attach the gathered   lace to another piece of lace.  It is more difficult to gather with three threads.  Remember to pull the threads gently and slowly.  This is a good method to use on necks and sleeves but it would be most tedious to use on a long piece of lace such as around the hem of the dress.

Stitching Lace Edging To Lace Insertion

Gather the edging to fit the Lace Insertion , matching the half way point of the lace with the half way point of the lace insertion.  If need be, you can divide the lace into quarters for even more assurance that the gathers are even.

I will whip the Lace Edging to the Lace Insertion with right sides together.   In this photo the Insertion has already been stitched to the dress.  The method is the same if the lace is not stitched to the dress - right sides together.

Use a fine needle and thread. I am using an 11 Sharps and a Madeira #80 thread.  Take a stitch through the lace heading of the Edging and Insertion as shown, binding both headings together.  Pull snug with each stitch. Check gathers frequently to make sure they haven't  shifted.  I am stitching the lace right sides together.  And I am stitching from right to left (or top to bottom is shown).

Continue down the length of the Lace Insertion until complete.

When I am done stitching, I will smooth open the lace so that the right side of lace will be facing up, alongside to the lace insertion.  

Stitching Lace To Entredeux

I am trimming away the clipped edge of the entredeux selvage from the neck of this daygown.

Trim away the selvage of the entredeux.

See the little safty pin marking the center of the lace!

Be sure to mark the center of the lace and the entredeux.

A lace board helps because you can pin the entredeux and lace in place as you gather.  You will take it off the board to stitch.

Evenly gather up the lace to fit the entredeux, matching centers.

Position the lace in front of the entredeux and hold together as you stitch.

This Picture shows how it looks as you stitch.

Work from right to left, bringing the needle through each hole of the entredeux and through the lace heading, binding the entredeux and the lace together.

Here you can see how the needle goes through the entredeux and lace.

Top view.

Back View.

Pretty little finished sleeve.

Use the same method to attach Flat Lace Edging to Entredeux.  Just don't gather the lace!

To see more information about stitching Lace to Entredeux go Here.