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Lace Angel Wings

1/22/2015

5 Comments

 
I was asked how I made the wings for my angel ensemble, so thought I'd share a few pictures, and try explain the process. Like everything with this outfit, nothing ever went as I expected, and the wings were no exception. I originally drafted a pattern for an angle wing. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it. Then I came across some lace appliqués, that in my opinion, resembled feathers
Picture
There were actually two different versions of the 'feathered' appliqués, and I was originally going to use the second shorter ones for the top half of the wing. But then, when I was going through my lace stash again, I came across the folder full of the pink floral appliqués, and it was like they were just 'calling out to be used'. So I did. 

The only way to show the lace to maximum advantage was to layer it between some very sheer white fabric. The sheer was too slippery to just cut out, or to pre-draw the wing shape onto, so I pinned two layers of the sheer onto the paper pattern, placed the lace appliqués on top, pinned them down, and stitched around the outside edge of both the paper pattern and the lace appliqués, leaving an opening at the shoulder so I could turn the wings right side out.  After stitching, cutting out the wings, clipping the edges, and turning them right-side-out, I pressed them, then top-stitched a narrow pocket along the top edge for the wire, and top-stitched the wing to accent the embroidered appliqués inside.

I bent wire to fit into the pockets on the edge of the wings, inserted them, hot-glued the ends in place. The wire was visible through the sheer fabric, so I covered the edge with glitter to hide it. While I was at it, I also added a bit of glitter to highlight the pink floral design of the lace.  I used pink glitter fabric paint, sprinkled with iridescent glitter to tone it down....
Picture
The wires of the wings slip into narrow pockets sewn onto the back of the dress bodice.  
So there you are. They were actually quite easy to do once I knew what I was doing.  The 
biggest challenge to making similar wings would be finding similar shaped lace appliqués.
5 Comments
Lorraine
1/22/2015 09:47:40 am

Thanks so much for doing this, Martha. I can follow it just fine--up to the point where you turn the wings right-side out. Is this where you remove the paper? And do you end up with a layer of sheer fabric over the appliques? It sounds like you layered the appliques over both layers of sheer. I guess I'm confused.

I've never seen lace appliques that looked like that, so I imagine finding them again would be near impossible. It's a good thing you had two. If it were me I'd have bought only one and then I'd be trying to figure out how to cut it in half to make a pair!

Brava! Great job!

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Martha
1/22/2015 08:23:12 pm

In order for the appliqués to be inside the wing when it's turned right side out, they need to be on top of both layers of sheer fabrics. Actually, the appliqués were basted onto sheer fabric first, and then they became the Back side of that piece of sheer fabric. When sewing anything the RIGHT sides need to be together, and that would be the sheer fabrics. After sewing around the outside of the wing, the paper pattern is unpinned and removed. After trimming and clipping, the wing gets turned right side out - the 'wing' gets opened between the two layers of sheer and turned right side out so the appliqués are inside.

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Lorraine
1/23/2015 03:02:58 am

Many thanks for the clarification. I'm about to start work on a costume that should have wings. I was planning to omit them because I had no idea how to proceed, but now I think I'll go shopping for some lace.

Martha
1/23/2015 04:05:47 am

I also have several other wing tutorials, with detailed step-by step instructions that might be of some help. You'd just have to use different fabrics than the tutorials, start by placing a layer of STIFF sheer fabric over your paper pattern, layering the lace over it until you are happy with it, then basting it into place. Just remember that the lace is on the WRONG side when you put the two layers of fabric right sides together to sew your wings.

Catherine Lewis
1/22/2015 11:11:46 pm

I also say thank you Martha, very exquisite work, you are indeed lucky to have had '2' as Lorraine pointed out, your work is magnificant. I am surprised you did not have to 'stiffen' the wings. That is the only thing I have done with mine but yours seem to be complete without stiffening them, bravo! You are a great Mentor and we all love you. Thank you so much for sharing this. Katee

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    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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