Most lace is either white or ivory, due to its starring role at weddings.
Of course black lace can be nice too – especially for evening wear or underwear. I really like this vintage dress where the black lace is mounted on white. Then there is Black Lace, which was a terrible 1980s band (push pineapple, shake the tree).
Red lace, is well, racey.
And pink, blue or lemon lace is nice for ladies negligees, petticoats and other frilly stuff.
But I wanted BROWN lace.
I am making a brown, chiffon blouse that calls for a lace edging. It needs to measure about one inch wide. I cannot find the stuff in this country. If you search “Brown lace” you get something to hold your boots on with.
I tried Simply Fabrics. I tried the internet (one piece – I bought it, see left, but it is not dark enough, and it is too narrow), I am stumped. I could dye some but it seems an inordinate effort for a bit of trim. Lots of you suggest black, and maybe you are right, but I want to be different!
I have got some brown gingham ribbon, and I have got some ric rac.
Here I try them against the yoke. I don’t think much of any of these. Any other suggestions? Or do I have to go for black?
SweatyKnitter
Oh no, don’t go for black lace! My vote is to find a lovely lace in natural cotton or silk and dye it. If you don’t dye, there should be someone nearby who would do it for you!
Sue
If you don’t want to dye it, try fabric paint. I have had very good luck with that. Just turn the garment so the lace is inside in the wash – if you wash it any way other than by hand. It is easier to get the color you want that way.
Mary
Try a bra making website. They have many different colours. Maybe you could join two narrow pieces together
fabrickated
Good suggestion about the bra making websites. We just have so little choice compared to the US and I don’t really want to pay the taxes and take the risk with buying internationally.
Lynn
Google “brown lace trim”. I found examples of brown laces on etsy, eBay, and Amazon. I don’t know what you will find in the UK, but the addition of the word ” trim” makes a big difference in the search results.
SewRuthie
I think I have some vintage brown and cream lace. Want me to photograph it and share in case it would work for you?
fabrickated
You are too kind Ruthie!
Jay
A couple of suggestions – dye some you like, or visit one of those shops or markets which sell lace fabric in lengths and see if there is some which can be used to cut out motifs. There again, you could crochet some, but that may be more work than you would like.
DementedFairy
Try a Sari shop- they have lace trims and borders in every colour imaginable. Brown will not be in major supply, but should still be there.
Mary Funt
I did the same as Lynn: look for “brown lace trim” and you’ll find loads on EBay. Lingerie sites also have some. I’m not fond of the ribbons you have on hand and the rick rack isn’t the look you are going for, IMO. I think a delicate lace is more suitable for the silk chiffon. Dyeing the lace: ??? Check out Dharma Trading for advice. I believe poly doesn’t work well but nylon will. They have excellent tutorials and you need to get the right kind of dye. Don’t know if there is a UK source.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Christine Burns
Entree des Fournisseurs in Paris. They have an excellent web shop and some brown lace well brown with hints of peacock. I think they ship to the UK.
fabrickated
Christine – thanks so much for this wonderful suggestion. I have now discovered the website and I agree the blue and brown lace is amazing. I think I will have to have some…
Stephanie
Same as others, I checked on Etsy and there seemed to be some options. I would definitely go for brown, not black. 🙂
Carol S
I say black. Black and brown is a very designer look.
Bunny
Dyeing the lace is as simple as putting it in a ziploc bag with the dye and into the microwave, very very easy. That would be my way to go. I would use French cotton lace, really not that expensive here in the US unless its a wide width. My suggestion would be to use a more delicate lace as others have mentioned. I have a lot of lace in my studio, much inherited, and brown lace, for whatever reason, seams to appear in a heavier more chunky looking cotton . The French lace, like we use in heirloom sewing here, is very light and would be lovely with the chiffon
Utta Retch
I find street market habby stalls usually have stuff that nobody else seems to sell. Demented Fairy’s suggestion of sari shops is also a good one. Generally, if you are near/can reach an area with a high Asian population, you will find a wealth of lovely sewing requisites.
fabrickated
Great suggestions Utta – many thanks. As I buy most of my supplies from habby stalls, markets and semi-wholesale I often end up with strange colours….
Anne
I agree with the above posts. If you can’t get what you want on eBay or Etsy, dye it! Not black. Though I love the black lace – not for here, though.
ceci
please not the ribbon/ric rack. You do such lovely fabric painting, maybe try that on a lace that is the envisioned dimension? Sari shops are always fun even if brown lace doesn’t appear (and brown is not the color I recall from such trips.
Ceci
fabrickated
Thank you Ceci. Yes I have already ruled that one out. I love the idea of Indian silk, and have already found some nice stuff – not for this project, but lovely.