Lace Decoration Length

Lace Trim Length Calculator

Lace trim sells by the linear meter and goes along the edges of dresses, tablecloths, cushions, curtains and lingerie. To work out how much you need, measure the perimeter you want to decorate and tack on a safety margin for joins, hems and last-minute adjustments. The basic formula is length = perimeter × (1 + waste/100). Waste usually sits around 10% to 15% for straight runs, and climbs to 20% to 30% once the lace has to follow curves or gathers.

Commercial rolls tend to come in 9 m units, with widths anywhere from 1 cm to 10 cm. You'll mostly run into three families: guipure, which is denser and three-dimensional and gets sewn over a soluble base; Calais, a fine French lace that traces back to the Leavers loom; and Nottingham, the English industrial mesh lace. What gives a piece its final hand is the blend, usually some mix of cotton, polyester and elastic.

Applications

Bridal gowns, communion dresses, christening robes, lingerie sets, decorative pillows, dish towels finished with crochet, lampshades, scrapbook embellishments. In Brazil, the Mantiqueira mountain region keeps the Renaissance lace tradition (renda renascença) alive, hand-stitched along braided tape (lacê).

FAQ

How much extra lace should I buy for corners? Count on at least 5 cm per corner for mitered folds, on top of the overall waste percentage.

Can lace be washed in the machine? Delicate laces like Calais and guipure want hand washing, or a mesh bag at 30°C if you must. Industrial Nottingham trims handle normal cycles fine.

How to join two pieces of lace invisibly? Overlap them 1–2 cm along the floral motif and stitch with matching thread, following the contour of the design.