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Finding lace fabric for my wedding dress, and running out of time! argh!
donteatmenooo
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I'm getting married in May, and since I spent all summer trying on wedding dresses that I either didn't like or couldn't afford, I decided to get one made to my specifications on Etsy.com. I picked a seamstress who has some small access to local lace vendors, and she's been sending me pictures of possible laces for my dress, but so far I haven't really liked any of them and I need help finding a good lace, and ASAP!
Now, I have to clarify, I am going to be using a bloody ton of lace for this dress. The "petticoat" or whatever (underskirt) is going to have the entire bottom ruffle (25 yards long!) be lace, and the corset will be covered in lace, and I will have lace gloves/sleeves. So whatever lace I choose has to be kind of pretty, and soft, at the very least.
Here is the main idea I am basing my dress on (I have changed the design significantly, but where the lace is concerned it's pretty accurate):
I really like the sheer patterned fabric used there. It's almost not a lace, but there is definitely a somewhat "tight" design on it (tight meaning there's not a lot of blank space).
I've learned a little about laces since starting this, and know that anything that looks too much like netting is supposedly kind of cheap, and honestly I think it looks cheap anyway. Plus, again, I would like it to almost be organza with a pattern instead of holey lace, although I'm not discarding that.
So my seamstress sent me the following pictures:
This one (above) seemed a little cheap, and really just okay. Not quite what I was wanting.
(above) This one just seemed super cheap-looking to me. Too much like netting.
(above) I kind of like the sheer-ness, but there's not too much of a pattern to it, and mostly... it just looks too 3D to me. I don't want the pattern to be so raised off the fabric.
(above) Kind of pretty, but really not much pattern to it at all. And one of the biggest reasons I want lace is because the "noise" of it meshes well with my skin (lots of freckles), so I don't think this would do the trick anyway.
(above) I think this may be my favorite, but it's not as sheer as I wanted, and I'm worried it's too heavy of a fabric to look very delicate, but it's hard to tell from the picture (she's sending me a sample today, so I should get it in a few days). My mom thinks it kind of looks like a tablecloth.
(above) Again too cheap/netting-ish.
(above) Small picture, so it's hard to tell, but looks kind of like netting, and the pattern is kind of weird.
(above) Pretty nice, I guess, but I'm still worried about it being too heavy. I really kind of did want something very delicate, even sheer (I know I've used that word a lot here, sorry). Plus, this one was $30/yard, so getting enough for the dress would be way more than I wanted to pay for.
(above) Same as the picture above it: nice, heavy, expensive.
So those are my choices unless I find something better. I've been searching everywhere - went to Jo Ann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics and couldn't find anything remotely soft and nice. I've been looking everywhere online and can really only find sheer fabrics with very minimal patterns, nothing as tight as I'm looking for, or fabrics just like what my seamstress sent me. I've gotten samples from all sorts of random places (including a curtain store!), but it turns out that lace made out of polyester is super scratchy, so all curtains are out of the picture.
So please, if anyone happens to know where I can find lace/organza like that in the very first picture of the dress, I would basically love you forever. I really want the dress to be done before January so that I have enough time to change things or add things or resize it, etc. Please help!
Now, I have to clarify, I am going to be using a bloody ton of lace for this dress. The "petticoat" or whatever (underskirt) is going to have the entire bottom ruffle (25 yards long!) be lace, and the corset will be covered in lace, and I will have lace gloves/sleeves. So whatever lace I choose has to be kind of pretty, and soft, at the very least.
Here is the main idea I am basing my dress on (I have changed the design significantly, but where the lace is concerned it's pretty accurate):
I really like the sheer patterned fabric used there. It's almost not a lace, but there is definitely a somewhat "tight" design on it (tight meaning there's not a lot of blank space).
I've learned a little about laces since starting this, and know that anything that looks too much like netting is supposedly kind of cheap, and honestly I think it looks cheap anyway. Plus, again, I would like it to almost be organza with a pattern instead of holey lace, although I'm not discarding that.
So my seamstress sent me the following pictures:
This one (above) seemed a little cheap, and really just okay. Not quite what I was wanting.
(above) This one just seemed super cheap-looking to me. Too much like netting.
(above) I kind of like the sheer-ness, but there's not too much of a pattern to it, and mostly... it just looks too 3D to me. I don't want the pattern to be so raised off the fabric.
(above) Kind of pretty, but really not much pattern to it at all. And one of the biggest reasons I want lace is because the "noise" of it meshes well with my skin (lots of freckles), so I don't think this would do the trick anyway.
(above) I think this may be my favorite, but it's not as sheer as I wanted, and I'm worried it's too heavy of a fabric to look very delicate, but it's hard to tell from the picture (she's sending me a sample today, so I should get it in a few days). My mom thinks it kind of looks like a tablecloth.
(above) Again too cheap/netting-ish.
(above) Small picture, so it's hard to tell, but looks kind of like netting, and the pattern is kind of weird.
(above) Pretty nice, I guess, but I'm still worried about it being too heavy. I really kind of did want something very delicate, even sheer (I know I've used that word a lot here, sorry). Plus, this one was $30/yard, so getting enough for the dress would be way more than I wanted to pay for.
(above) Same as the picture above it: nice, heavy, expensive.
So those are my choices unless I find something better. I've been searching everywhere - went to Jo Ann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics and couldn't find anything remotely soft and nice. I've been looking everywhere online and can really only find sheer fabrics with very minimal patterns, nothing as tight as I'm looking for, or fabrics just like what my seamstress sent me. I've gotten samples from all sorts of random places (including a curtain store!), but it turns out that lace made out of polyester is super scratchy, so all curtains are out of the picture.
So please, if anyone happens to know where I can find lace/organza like that in the very first picture of the dress, I would basically love you forever. I really want the dress to be done before January so that I have enough time to change things or add things or resize it, etc. Please help!
donteatmenooo on
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Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
I have looked online, more so than in stores, actually, since there really aren't many fabric stores around me.
I still have not found anything that a.) looked better than the ones my seamstress sent, b.) was sheer with enough of a pattern, or c.) I could afford. Although to be honest, I don't think I found anything quite like what's in that first picture.
Maybe it's a certain type of fabric whose name I don't know? Does anyone have any insights?
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ivory-subtle-silver-lightweight-lace-fabric-/260481792243?pt=UK_Crafts_Fabric_Textiles_SM&hash=item3ca5ecb8f3#ht_1977wt_907
You may also try looking for chiffon.
YOU, my friend, are brilliant.
I never actually thought to look on ebay for something like fabric, especially a lot of it. That example you sent is so incredibly close to what I want!
You really are amazing. THANK YOU, NightDragon!!!
Best of luck finding what you're lucking for, the dress looks gorgeous.
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
"Fabric" lace, like most of your sample pics, really wouldn't add that much weight to your dress, TBH. But it looks like you are looking for something closer to embroidered chiffon or organza.
A note: Most "fabric" lace and embroidered delicate fabric WILL be expensive. That's usually because you can't exactly throw it on a machine to make them because a machine would eat them. They have to be done by hand and that eats up labor hours. The more detailed and elaborate the pattern in the lace or other delicate fabric, the more expensive it will be.
That being said, here's a list of places to poke around in. I use all of these shops (some more than others) in my costuming business and their costumer service is excellent.
http://www.fabric.com/ - Amazing selection and sales and I recently ordered some chiffon with a vine design that I think you'll like.
http://www.trimfabric.com/ - They buy a lot of overstock and if I'm looking for something with a specific pattern or something odd, they rarely disappoint.
http://www.denverfabrics.com/
http://spandexworld.com/ - Probably don't have what you're looking for, as they specialize in stretch fabric.
http://www.distinctivefabric.com/ - I usually only go to them when I'm looking for something specific.
http://www.syfabrics.com/default.aspx
http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/
http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/
http://fabrics-store.com/
http://fabricmartfabrics.com/controller/index.php
http://cheeplace.com/
Good luck! I hope you find what you are looking for.
Wow, so it's been well over two years, but I recently returned to these forums and realized I never followed up. Not sure if any of you still care at all, but you all really helped me out when I was in a tight spot. Especially @NightDragon! I ended up getting my lace through that eBay seller you linked, and it was perfect. Super soft, stretchy, and beautiful. Lycra is the material, apparently.
Anyway, if you would like, here are some pictures of my finished dress:
Thanks everyone!