How to Harden Lace Fabric
The stiff lace material is also known as hardened lace fabric because it increases the stiffness of the fabric to make it more stiff and rigid in structure. It is a process that is used for the purpose of attaining a more professional look of clothes like occasion dresses, wedding dresses, evening gowns and so on. Lace fabric can be hardened in several approaches in order to achieve intended results.
The first method used to set the laces fabric is to use a stiffening agent. A solution could be a store bought product often used in the preparation process like Starch, Sizing or fabric stiffener; could also be something prepared at home like a solution made by dissolving sugar in water. The stiffening agent is then spread on the fabric so that it may dry and become comfortable. The fabric will be stiffer and more rigid, in fact, once it gets dry again, after washing for example.
The second method of setting the stiffness of Fabric Lace Trim is by the use of heat. It can be an iron, a steamer or a heat gun as mentioned earlier depending on the preferred method of the cleaner. This is the heat source that is employed to heat the fabric so that the fibers in the fabric shrink making them stiffer. The best thing about this method is that it should be applied on laces since heat can easily affect the other delicate fabrics.
The third way of stiffening lace material is to use the two ways together. It involves treating the fabric with an agent that tends to stiffen the fabric then using a heat source to treat the fabric. This method is more appropriate on fabrics that cannot be exposed to the heat source by any chance.
As for any of the methods, it’s always advisable to ‘pregnant’ the fabric before using it for a garment. This can be done by painting a small portion of the stiffening agent or applying the heat on the whole fabric material then allowing it to dry on a spare textile fabric. After drying the fabric must be checked for its rigidity and its ability to regain its flexibility. If, however, the fabric is too stiff or too flexible it should be adjusted by the process in order to obtain the ideal outcome.
This is the way the fabric becomes hard but after that it is necessary to take proper care of this fabric. The fabric should be kept in a cool dry area out of reach from direct exposure to light. It should also be stored at a cool and dry place as this may prove to be disastrous in as much as it is concerned because excessive exposure usually leads to limpiness of the fabric and at the same time loss of stiffness.
Harden lace fabric is well suitable for dressing up the garments so that they can look more presentable. As much as it may take time to prepare the fabric and make a small test, it is what should be done before using such a fabric on a garment. If properly washed and handled this material can be used to make nice and classy dresses among others.
