lolita laundry tip: blocking your lace
This is something that really helps to make any dress with cotton lace look nicer- in the first pic, the middle row on the bodice and right side neckline have been blocked, and in the second photo all the lace has been done. In the third photo, the upper section has been blocked and the lower section below the waist seam hasn’t (I know I need to lint roll this dress, sorry!)
‘Blocking’ is a finishing technique commonly found in knitting and lace-making where after you wash your piece, as it dries you pull it into the correct shape so that after it dries it maintains that shape. For lace especially, this changes the lace from a scrunched-up state, opening up the stitches so you can see the beautiful pattern. Technically, proper blocking involves putting the item on a special mat and pinning it into place, but for my lolita I’ve found that you can just do it by hand.
This is done after washing, but while the garment is still damp- I generally wash my dresses in a machine (on a normal or gentle cycle, cold settings only) and then let them air-dry, and that’s when I deal with the lace. If I put them in the dryer or let them dry as is, the lace would dry in the ‘scrunched up’ state rather than being neat and flat (this has to be done every time you wash the garment).
To block- hold the seam or edge of the garment in one hand, and gently tug at the lace with the other to spread it out into shape. Only use enough force to get the lace to spread out, and be careful not to pull so hard you damage the seams or fabric! Then just let the dress air dry.
If you need to fix scrunched lace on a dry dress, I’d suggest steaming rather than ironing. If you gently steam the lace until it’s damp, then wait a couple seconds for it to cool off, you can re-block it, but personally I find this more tedious than blocking out of the wash since you have to watch out for the heat.
This technique is generally just for natural fibers- if you own wool or cotton sweaters they will also benefit from being gently pulled into shape before drying (never put wool in the dryer as it will shrink!). Synthetic lace, however, maintains its shape and can be machine-dried as long as the rest of the garment is also dryer-safe.
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I've been compiling my wardrobe post (idc that it's going to not be in January) and thought I would compile a very satisfying (or overly indulgent) Mary Magdalene burgundy collection for the ✨aesthetic✨
Edit for clarity: left to right, top to bottom
1. Titania OP
2. Madeleine OP
3. Whyteleafe OP
4. Enid OP
5. Elodie Doll JSK
6. Farutetto JSK
7. St. Claire OP
8. Rote Rose OP
9. Bise JSK
(yes there is more where this came from)
(no it's not redundant at all)
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Angelic Pretty Strawberry Doll Coord for Spring
Angelic Pretty's Strawberry Doll might not be a crowd favourite among AP's Strawberry print dresses, but it's the ultimate all-rounder for me - perfect for cafe hopping, fancy dinners, or even frolicking in the park. Plus it's subtle and comfortable enough for travel and works well for dressy events like a work buffet (minus the twin tails, of course!) Anyone else out there have a favourite underrated print?
Dress: Angelic Pretty Strawberry Doll
Handbag: Maison de Fleur
Parasol: Whale Island
KC: Vcastle
Choker: Rose of Sharon
Pearl bracelets: SL沈夫人原创手工
Black lace wrist cuffs: Haruhi Clover
Wine red ribbon brooches: Handmade
Shoes, shoe clips & socks: Sheep Puff
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