While the strapless gown is an ever popular stylish look that adds to the fairy tale elegance of the perfect show-stopping evening dress perhaps, at times, there’s a little too much bare to display, at least initially. What to do? Consider a stylish bolero, shrug, or caplet (small shoulder skimming cape) made out of lace as the perfect temporary shoulder cover-up for the neckline and shoulder revealing gown. Even a gown with a V shaped, or sweetheart neckline would still look captivating with the addition of a simple lacy covering.

Whether the demure cover-up is to wrap bare shoulders on a revealing prom or wedding gown, a simple bolero or shrug can be sewn using any of the many sewing patterns currently available. For the adventurous and skilled, the tiny topper can even be crocheted or knitted.

When making the little cover-up wrap out of lace, consider these tips:

Choose a pattern with few seams or darts and lace that is easy to cut around the motifs while keeping them intact for easy piecing together and to conceal any overlapped flat-seamed edges. Use tiny hand-sewn stitches to seam the overlapped lace edges together. Most lace used in garment construction requires some underlying support. Use sheer organza, or organdy for lining and incorporate traditional seaming for sheers.

Lace that has a definite raised embroidered look works well such as:

Alencon – Alencon lace gets its name from a town of the same name in France, southwest of Paris, and dates to the 17th century. It is a very sturdy and beautiful lace with an embroidered look on a sheer net background. It is distinguishable by the silk-like cord that outlines each lace motif.

Galloon lace, with its definite scalloped edges is easy to cut into strips to use as edging.

Guipure or Venice lace has no net background upon which the lace motifs lay, but rather is stitched on a cloth background that is washed away in the finishing process. Easy to piece and cut out the lacy motifs.

Chantilly lace is ephemeral in its delicate beauty. Also named for its city of French origin, it has a net background.

Although new lace can come with startling prices, just a little over a yard, or depending upon the pattern just one-half yard, is all that is needed to make any of the cover-ups that can be found online or in a sewing pattern. Sewing the reserved bolero or shrug from a treasured lacy heirloom saved for just such the occasion gives added meaning to wearing the perfect dress for such happy celebrations.

Lace Bolero Jacket Ideas as seen on Pinterest.com

Sew happy, sew inspired.