Question:
How do I describe this dress? There are pleats, covered buttons and that cord looking stuff. What is that cord stuff called? Is than an appliqué? I need all the help I can get on this dress.
Copy of lady-de-youngs-broadway-1.jpg
Click to enlarge the picture.
Thanks a bunch!
Answer:
The cord stuff is called soutache.
The pleats are called pintucking.
Answer:
Thank you Jayne.
Answer:
Elizdale, take a look at this auction for a good close-up of soutache scroll work. It isn't applique, usually the soutache is stitched right on the fabric following the design.
Answer:
Which auction Joan? Did you mean to reference this auction? That one does show a great closeup.
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Oops, forgot the link. Yes, that's the one. Isn't it gorgeous?
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Yes it is gorgeous.
Thanks again Jayne and Joan.
Answer:
Showing my ignorance but can't the cording also be called piping? Or is that just on edges of stuff?
Beautiful and a lot of work
Answer:
Piping is cord that is covered with bias strips of cloth (usually in a contrasting color) and sewn into seams. It can be on the edge, but it can also be on any seam.
Piping is sometimes called cording, but not all cording is piping.
To me, cording is decorative cord that is applied directly to the fabric to provide design. That type of cording is never called piping.
To make it even more confusing, even though the flat braided cord is applied exactly the same way as the other cord, it's not ever called cording. The proper name for the flat braid itself is soutache, and no matter how you apply it to fabric, the method is called soutache, too. Weird, huh?
Answer:
thanks