Dear Sue, One possibility for your lace bracelet is to pick up scraps of UltraSuede in various colors, cut them to fit under your lace, and layer the lace bracelet over the UltraSuede. Some companies sell UltraSuede in pieces at reasonable prices or you can cut up old garments found at flea markets. You might check the ads in "Threads" magazine. UltraSuede is washable, does not ravel, and is not overly-slippery. A couple basting stitches under some solid elements should hold lace in place, and be easy to remove.
Ultrasuede is considered a luxury fabric, and comes in delicious colors. It will provide a little body to your bracelet. You can apply any needed stiffener to the underside of the Ultrasuede instead of the lace. Further, if your lace does contain metallics, it will reduce itching problems. A fashion trend these days is the wearing of colored leather bracelets and wristwatches with colored leather bracelets, so this would just be a very exciting departure from the norm. Another thought would be to make pectorals (large pendants worn on the upper flat part of the chest) that can hang from a cord around your neck, using up nice smaller pieces of laces appliqued to colorful UltraSuede, backed with something firm that will conform to the body. The cord ends would be attached to such pieces several inches apart, not at the center, so they will sit well on your upper chest. (Think of the shape of a horseshoe hanging around your neck, with the pectoral attached at the open end.) Or, pockets you wear around your neck to carry eye glasses or sun glasses. A very valuable skill to have is "finishing techniques". Some Guilds offer such courses, especially Embroiderers' Guilds, and it would make a nice program for a Lace Guild meeting. Ask in a good needlework shop if there is a suitable teacher, or books from which to learn. Craft shops and upholstery shops sell beautiful cords and ribbons, if you do not want to make your own. If you want to use gold or silver, machines appear to twist the metallics smoother than you can by hand. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace & Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
