
Today I want to talk about how easy it is to add a swatch of lace to the front of a garment, to give it an extra kick!
Lace is considered a notion or embellishment, and it isn’t a necessary addition to a garment. But it can really jazz up an ordinary shirt or blouse.
Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how affiliate marketing works on my website, please go to the Privacy Policy page. Thank you!

As you can see in the image above, I’m using a double-sided lace trim that has already been gathered. But you can do this with any type of lace. If it only has scallops along one side, run two rows of lace, side by side, down the front of the garment, with the scalloped edge facing out.
But I’ve found it works well if you do this before you begin sewing the garment itself. I didn’t like the stitch line down the front of my shirt, so I sewed a velvet ribbon down the center of my lace after applying the lace itself.
Let your creative juices flow. Experiment with different widths of ribbons, different styles of lace, until you find a look you really like.
You can even experiment with different lace layouts, like the lace ruffle that I added to this wedding dress bodice:

The idea behind adding embellishments like lace is to change the look of a garment, so it doesn’t seem like you’re making the same ol’ Barbie shirt over and over again.
Question: What are some embellishments you like to add to a garment? Buttons? Rickrack? Lace trim? Embroidered trim? Ribbons?
Feel free to add some additional ideas and thoughts on both lace and other embellishments in the comments section.
Here are 3 ways you can help support my website and YouTube channel:
- Visit my eBay store to see if there’s anything you need there, and if so, make a bid
- Purchase one of the fabrics I’ve designed — here’s a link to my Spoonflower store
- Pray for this website to grow and prosper!
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Disclaimer/Credit/Affiliate Marketing Link:
*Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page.
Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with any of the doll or toy companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly enjoys designing her doll clothes to fit a variety of dolls. To learn more about the doll companies mentioned in today’s post, please visit the doll or toy company’s website.
