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Lace Garter and Shoe Accents for the Bride

lace garter

Materials and tools

Two 24 cm (1 inch) blue satin ribbons 1" or 1-1/2" wide
A 24" piece 1" white lace
One 24" piece 3" white lace
Sewing machine
Thread
Measuring tape
scissors
1/4" wide elastic
Elastic guide or safety pin.

Directions:

1. Cut the lace and ribbon into 24" lengths, one size to fit the average thigh. If needed, cut 30" length pieces for a larger leg.

2. Place the edge of the 3" lace along one edge of a piece of blue ribbon, with the right side of the lace and the wrong side of the ribbon facing up. The lace should overlap the ribbon by about 1/4 ". Sew the lace onto the ribbon.

3. Sew the 1" cord along the other edge of the ribbon, with the right side of the cord and the wrong side of the ribbon facing up.

4. Place the second piece of ribbon on top of the first, wrong sides together (or right side of the second piece of ribbon facing up), and sew the second piece of ribbon in place.

5. Double wrap the elastic by sewing down the center of the ribbons. Don't worry if your stitching isn't perfect. You won't see it once the elastic is placed and the tape is gathered.

6. Thread a 12" piece of elastic onto an elastic guide or safety pin, and push it through one of the casings or channels created by the seam in the tape. To make threading the guide easier, cut off the end of the elastic forms an angle. Once the elastic passes through the cover of the tape, attach it to the tape at both ends so that the elastic does not come out of the cover. Pass another 12" piece of elastic through the second cover .

7. Fold the garter in half with the right sides of the elastic together, bringing the ends together. Pinch the garter and try it on to check the fit. Stitch at the end. Zigzag, using a long wide stitch, at the end again for security. If the cord gets caught on both ends of the sewing foot, wrap a piece of clear tape around them. Trim the excess fabric from the ends and turn the garter belt inside out.

Shoe Accents

Materials and tools

8" to 10" piece of 1" wide lace
String
Sewing machine
Needle and thread
small hanging pearls
silk charmeuse fabric
fabric glue
small silk roses
Shoe Clips

Directions:

1. Cut an 8" to 10" cord that is 1" wide and a piece of string the same length. Lay the cord on top of the cord along one edge, and zigzag stitch over the cord along the entire length, creating a conductive thread.

2. Pull the string to gather the cord into a circle. Tie the two ends of the rope together. Trim the ends).

3. Hand sew a 6" pearl necklace onto the lace circle, making three loops in the center of the circle.

4. To make a silk rose, cut a piece of silk charmeuse 4" long and 1 1/2" wide. Taper the ends so the piece has an oval shape. Fold the oval in half lengthwise and loosely roll the fabric into a rose. The folded edge will be the top of the rose. Stick the rose to the bottom using a needle and thread.

5. Glue the silk rose to the center of the lace circle, using fabric glue. Buy small silk roses with wire stems and insert them from the top of the lace circle in the back. Twist the wires together at the back, forming a base for the shoe clip. Sew the shoe clip to the stems or have a cobbler glue the lace trims to the shoes.