Tiger Tape Tip!

The technique “Gathered Lace to Entredeux” is used in almost every heirloom garment as a neck and/or a sleeve finish. Although lovely, this technique can drive you crazy for several reasons. As you stitch the two pieces together, the lace either clumps as it is attached or the sewing machine feed dogs “ungather” the lace as it goes under the presser foot. Needless to say, the results are not what you intended. Tiger Tape will give you a perfect result that any “heirloomist” would be proud of.

1. In general, the lace is about 2-1/2 times longer than the entredeux.

2. Trim one side of the fabric edge from the entredeux (fig. 1). If desired, mark the half and quarter points on both the trimmed entredeux and the lace.

Figure 1

3. Pin the entredeux to a lace shaping board or ironing board. Pull the very top thread in the lace heading (straight edge) to gather the lace (fig. 2). Pull the heading thread from each end and gather the lace to fit the entredeux Pin the gathered lace to the lace shaping board under the entredeux - matching the marks (fig. 3).

Figure 2

Figure 3

4. Cut a piece of Tiger Tape the length of the entredeux.

5. Place the tape about 1/8” below the lace heading and finger press to secure the tape to the gathers (fig. 4).

Figure 4

6. Remove the lace and entredeux from the lace shaping board. Butt the trimmed edge of the entredeux to the gathered lace.

7. Stitch the two pieces together using a zigzag. Remove the tape (fig. 5).

Figure 5

Yea!! The lace remained perfectly gathered while being stitched giving a beautiful result.