Burda Style For people who sew

Hi everyone!
just wondering if there’s any tricks to the trade with beading fine lace? i’m making my own wedding dress and have purchased some absolutely beautiful absolutely expensive lace! and don’t want to ruin it by beading it incorrectly.

i’ve beaded before, using cotton thread etc, but is there anything extra i could do to ensure this dress will be in good shape for when my daughter walks down the isle! bit pre-emptive i know!

i’ve read online there’s a wax you can get to help strengthen the cotton. is cotton the correct fibre to use when beading chrystals, sequins, seed beads and diamonties?

thanks
brooke

Nov 5, 2009, 08.31 AM by littleone

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  Nov 5, 2009, 09.11 AMby KateXXXXXX

  Personally, I wouldn’t use cotton thread. I’d go for a smooth polyester or silk. It will be stronger than cotton and less prone to abraision by the beads, both as you sew and as you wear the gown. If possible, use a special beading thread. Wax cannot add strength to thread: all it does is smooth down surface fibres, making it run through the fabric more easily. My personal choice would be to use a thread that is smooth anyway.

  Sew the beading on in short runs so that if anything DOES give way, you only lose a small part of the beading.

  The best care comes after the wedding. Get the gown cleaned as soon as possible after the wedding. I was married on a Saturday and the dress was at the cleaners on Monday morning, thanks to my mother! 27 years later, it’s still in excellent condition. I had it re-cleaned a couple of years ago, but it only needed a refesher. Store it boxed in acid-free packing. You can buy wedding gown storage boxes for just this. Don’t store the gown hanging up. The weight will slowly stretch the gown out of shape and put stress on the hanging points, which will be the first areas to disintegrate after the armpits. Store it in a cool dry place out of the light. Inspect every year for invasion by moths and to refold so that it doesn’t set in particular folds. Handle with clean hands, and wear cotton gloves like museum white gloves if you can. Yes, archive it like a museum piece if you want it to last!

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    Nov 5, 2009, 09.40 AMby littleone

    thanks so much for that kate, i’ve already researched a few places for storing the dress after, it really is worth it im sure. when you think of how much work goes into them, it’s only fair they are treated with such love. good idea with the silk thread, that’s such a great help