Lace Instructions
The following is a step-by-step guide to folding regimental lace for application to the uniform. Any technical questions not answered herein should be addressed to the unit commander at hm17thregt@yahoo.com. Any technical difficulties occurring with this webpage (i.e. photos not displaying) should be reported immediately to the above address.
Step 1: Cutting
Cut 42 pieces of lace, each one 7 and 1/2 inches long.
Step 2: Sewing
Fold the lace in half, matching up the cut ends. Either pin or hold the lace and sew at a forty-five degree angle from the white side to the coloured side, as shown. This line holds the folded lace together and provides the guide for the first fold, so make it as uniform as possible on all forty-two pieces. Remember that you are attempting to form a 45-45-90 degree right triangle, if geometry makes sense to you.
Step three: the First Fold
Fold the lace along your sewed line and steam iron. Use lots of steam and iron sufficiently to make the fold hold, but be careful not to burn the lace. Tailors guilty of wasting regimental lace by scorching it will be given 500 lashes.
Step four: the Second Fold
Turn the lace under to form the first point and press with steam iron.
Step five: the third fold
Fold lace under point to form the third side of the rectangle and steam iron.
Step Six: forming the second point
Taking care that the inside edges of the lace butt up to one another, smooth the lace down into a point, making sure that the excess folds under to form an even triangle. Steam iron.
Step Seven: finishing the lace
Fold the lace point over, making sure that the base on the excess lace, folded under into a triangle in step six, matches up precisely with the final edge of the lace. If there is any excess along the area of the first fold, trim it off, but there should not be if you have followed these direction precisely.
Technical information for lace folding provided by Henry Cooke (10th Mass) and Daniel O'Connell (King's 8th).
Copy Right W. P. Tatum III, 2004