These knitted laces are used in shapewear and underwear more often than woven laces, because they are quicker and therefore cheaper to produce. Modern raschel machines allow a great variety of patterns – up to Jacquardtronic® lace, which only experts can still tell apart from woven lace.
Raschel laces can be recognised by the fact that both the motif and the tulle ground consist of stitches (woven lace has no tulle ground). Inlaid pattern threads running crosswise form the motif.
Fringe laces are raschel laces without a tulle ground: the motif is formed by pattern threads laid horizontally into the wales, while vertically running wales hold it in place.
Clip laces are raschel laces as well – their motifs lie individually in the lace ground, unconnected by threads, which makes them appear lighter and more transparent.
Typical uses are bras, shapewear and lingerie – wherever decorative lace needs to be worked economically in larger quantities.
Learn more about laces and appliqués in our Underwear Glossary.
