LACE INSERTION
TABLE TOPPER

Close-up

Supplies:
Weaver's cloth (Decide the size from 36X36 to 45X45. Starch and iron the fabric.)
Insertion lace about 3/4" to 1" wide (Yardage depends on the size but you will need 8 strips of lace X 36 or 45. Purchase a bit extra.)
Lace edging about 1-1/2" wide (Yardage depends on the size of tablecloth.)
Wing needle
Embroidery bobbin thread
Rayon embroidery thread.

Construction

Draw a light line with the #2 pencil or a wash away pen 6" from all outside edges. This line will be your guideline for placing the insertion lace.

I have two methods of putting this lace on the tablecloth. Try a sample of both on a small piece of fabric to see what you like the most. I love both ways.

METHOD 1: Satin Stitched Lace

Place one strip of lace right side up and the right edge of the lace should lay against one line on the fabric. Set a zig zag stitch for SL 1.5 and SW 1.5. Use the A foot and place the center of the foot on the very edge of the lace and With a normal #80 needle, stitch the lace to the fabric so that the stitch swings off the lace just to the very edge. Stitch the other side of the lace the same way. Measure 1" from the inside edge of the lace and draw another line. Lay the right edge of another strip of insertion lace against that line and stitch it the same way. You now have 2 strips of lace side by side with 1" in between them.

Go to the opposite side of the tablecloth and place two more rows of lace the same way.

Turn the fabric over and slip your scissor blades in between the lace and the fabric between those zig zag stitching lines under the lace. Carefully cut down the center of that fabric being careful not to catch the lace. Press that seam open. Do this on all the rows of lace. Turn the fabric to the right side again.

Set your machine for a satin stitch of SL .5 and SW 2. Center your foot over the edge of the lace and satin stitch the edges covering those zig zag stitches. Turn the fabric over and trim the excess seam fabric next to the satin stitching.

METHOD 2: Heirloom Stitched Lace (Wing Needle)

I also like heirloom stitching instead of satin stitching to hold my lace down. I use the pin stitch (D6 on the 1+ and Designer 1, 19 on the Rose) with settings of SL 2.5 and SW 2. Practice the stitch first with a small strip of lace and fabric. If sewing on the left side of the lace, the stitch is fine, but on the right side of the lace, use the "side by side" mirror.

The straight part of the stitch should land on the fabric right next to the lace and the fingers of the stitch go into the lace. Turn the fabric over and trim the fabric that is underneath the lace very close to the pin stitching.

* * * * *

Now, do the other sides of the fabric the same way. This time, you will have lace over the top of the previous lace where they cross over. When cutting the fabric under the lace, at the crossover area, you will be cutting the underneath lace. Treat it as though it were fabric.

Edging Lace:

Place your lace right side up and the fancy edge of the lace should be on the very edge of the fabric. Extend your lace about 1 1/2" beyond the end of the fabric corner. Set the zig zag stitch for SL 1.5 and SW 1.5. See: ** below.

OR

Use the pin stitch again to stitch the lace to the fabric. Trim the fabric under the lace close to the stitching.

Sew the lace to the fabric on the inner edge of the lace, but start the sewing down from the edge the exact width of the lace. (You don't want the lace stitched from the very top of the fabric because that part will be cut away.) Stitch until you are about 2" from the next corner. Carefully lay the lace to the very corner of the fabric, then fold the lace over upon itself back over the sewn on lace (make sure the fold of the lace is on the very edge of the fabric. Place a pin from the outside corner at a 45 degree angle. Place another pin from the inner side edge of the lace pointing it at that same angle toward the first pin. Then bring the lace forward again and it should make a perfect miter corner. Carefully stitch toward that miter and remove the pins before the needle pierces the fabric. Hold the miter in place so you can stitch to the inside corner and then pivot and go around the corner.

Do each corner the same way, but when you come to the last one, turn the lace UNDER itself so that the straight edges of the lace are meeting.

**When done stitching, press the fabric away from the lace all around the cloth. Use the satin stitch settings of SL .5 and SW 2 and stitch as you did on the insertion laces. Trim the excess fabric away when done. Using a tiny zig zag stitch, stitch those fold in the miter corner down

To further embellish each section of the tablecloth, you can insert a wing needle and pick the "star stitch" (D11 on the Designer 1, D9 on the 1+. The Rose doesn't have this, but the feather stitch would look wonderful.) Place the edge of the clear B foot against the lace edges and stitch a border around each section. You can also do an embroidery design in each corner or do pictogram designs.

J.H.