Using Insert Lace

For this blouse I am going to try insert lace for the first time. There are so many lovely and affordable pieces of antique lace for sale on eBay and Etsy that is is worth a shot, right?

Insert lace, or inserting lace, is actually very easy. First you stitch the piece of lace onto the front of the fabric.

A small zig zag with a short stitch length is perfect for all steps of this process.

Once the lace is all sewn down on the front, turn over the fabric to the back side and cut a straight line splitting to each edge of the lace.

Then fold the fabric

Do another row of zig zag stitches over the first, with the edges pressed outward. Repeat for each piece. I have added 5 rows on the neckline, and two at the top of each sleeve. I am almost out of lace so a piece for the collar and that will likely be all of the lace used.

Insert lace is so easy to apply that now I understand why so much of it was used. Entire gowns were created with the technique. The invert of machine lace was also a big help. I bought 5 yards of a vintage lace and it didn’t go far. Next time more and then more and then even more!