Lace tablecloths are the perfect way to dress-up any table setting and give an air of sophistication and elegance. Since lace is highly versatile, you can find a tablecloth to match any decorating style.
Popular Laces for Tablecloths
Lace is a very adaptable medium that can be woven into infinite patterns and designs. Lace can have very simplistic patterns or be highly intricate. You can even find cotton crocheted lace tablecloths. A tablecloth made from lace can create either a formal or informal table setting, depending on the fibers, color and pattern design .
Some well-known styles of lace:
- Alencon: This lace was first made in France during the sixteenth century. It's also known as Queen Anne's lace. The patterns can vary to include birds, vases of flowers, and various objects.
- Battenburg Lace: This lace is what's known as a tape lace. Patterns are created by sewing the lace tape into various patterns and designs. This sixteenth century lace was also popular in the late 1930s and 1940s.
- Chantilly: A seventeenth century lace that's typically made out of silk and was a popular black lace used by widows. In the modern world, it's also used as white bridal lace and for other clothing fashions, as well as very elegant tablecloths.
- Cutwork: A cutwork lace has various holes within the pattern work. These are created by removing fabric and sometimes individual threads to create patterns within the lacework. You can use a solid-colored tablecloth underneath a cutwork cloth so that the color peeps through the cutwork. To change the look, simply use a different colored tablecloth.
- Irish Lace: Irish lace tablecloths are often treasured family heirlooms. Buy a high-quality lace tablecloth and start your own heirloom linens collection.
- Nottingham Lace: This lace wasn't extremely popular in eighteenth century England when it arrived on the fashion scene. The beginnings of the Nottingham lace industry in Scranton can trace its roots back to immigrant miners' wives.
- Quaker Lace: This lace manufacturer was founded in 1911. During World War II, the company stopped manufacturing lace curtains to produce camouflaged netting for the troops. After the war, Quaker lace began manufacturing tablecloths.
- Renaissance: The Renaissance lace is often called Brussels or Ribbon lace and is one of the more traditional laces used for tablecloths.
- Rose motif: Rose lace comes in all types of patterns ranging from small to oversized roses in simple or complex designs.
- Scottish Lace: This isn't a pattern but an origin of many sought-after laces that are made in Scotland, many on the famous type of looms, Nottingham looms.
- Valencia: Valencia, Spain is famous for lace as well as fancy fans and elegant shawls. Valencia lace originates from this city and is used in both clothing and household fashions.
- Venice or Venetian Lace: There are several varieties of Venetian lace that include floral, vine, human figures, ornamental, and others.
Where to Buy Lace Tablecloths
If you would like to find one of these elegant styles of lace tablecloths, try these retailers:
- Heritage Lace- Here you can find several types of rose and floral lace as well as other styles.
- Battenburg Lace- As the name implies, you can find Battenburg lace, Irish Rose lace and cutwork lace.
- Harrington Fabric and Lace- This UK retailer ships worldwide and offers a large selection of lace fabric that could be used to make a tablecloth. Here you can find different styles of Nottingham lace and Chantilly lace.
Fibers and Fabrics Used for Lace
There are several fibers that are used to make lace. The traditional ones include silk, and cotton. Laces evolved over the centuries and so did the choices of fibers used to make it. These fabrics now include cotton-blends, polyesters and other synthetic fibers. Any of these fibers can be used to create lace for tablecloths.
Unique Lace Patterns for Tablecloths
In addition to traditional laces, there are quite a few modern and theme laces that are used to create fun novelty tablecloths.
Novelty Laces
Modern looms allow great diversity in the manufacturing of laces as well as the freedom to create novelty laces, all thanks to the introduction of computer technology with the lace-making manufacturing industry.
Patriotic
You can buy various tablecloths that have a patriotic theme that are great for Fourth of July celebrations, Labor Day and Memorial Day. These themes include the Statue of Liberty, fluttering American flags, Liberty Bell, eagles, and stars. Some of these tablecloths combine one or more patriotic symbols with vines and bouquets of flowers.
Nautical, Seashore and Beach
Seaside themes are also a popular novelty lace that not only can be found in lace tablecloths but also in lace curtains. This can be a fun addition to your beach cottage dining table or a whimsical way to dress up your kitchen table during the summer. The various seashore motifs include seashells, lighthouses, sail boats, sea gulls, boats wheels, anchors, ropes, and beach scenes.
Holiday
You can find numerous lace tablecloths for various holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Easter, Passover, and other holidays.
Tablecloth Sizes
You can find just about any tablecloth size needed for standard table sizes for round, oval, rectangular, and square tables. Also, you can have custom-made tablecloths for non-standard table sizes and shapes.
Tablecloth Drop
One of the things you want to consider when selecting a lace tablecloth is the desired drop to lap level. This is a very important aspect of fitting a tablecloth because too long of a drop will interfere in sitting around the table.A good rule of thumb for a traditional dining table is to allow for a drop between 10 to 12 inches from the tabletop to lap level. Banquet tables can have drop levels of 15 inches or floor length.
Lace tablecloths give your meals a special flair with a romantic ambiance that enhances your dining experience.
