Double Crossed Lacing
The Essential ‘How to…’
This is a variation of the Crossed Lacing but threading it in a way that creates a slightly different effect. We have no evidence of this being used by the Georgians, and pretty much could ignore it, except that over the years it has become another lacing method and so therefore makes sense to talk you through it’s technique. And it is kinda pretty!
The Steps:
- You will need a length of ribbon, the same as the Crossed Lacing method, so somewhere between 2 to 3 mts in length and with both ends tipped or you use an awl to push it through the holes.
- You start this method off in the same way as the Crossed Method; coming from the underside at the bottom 2 holes and pushing the ribbon through the eyelets.
- You then take one of the ends, from this point forth called ‘1st Tipped End’ and thread it through the next eyelet up on the opposite side. But instead of coming from the Underside, you push it through the eyelet from the topside as seen below.
- Take the other end (now called 2nd Tipped End) and do the same, push it through the eyelet from the Topside towards the Underside. Pull the rest of the lacing through. You’ve just created a cross,
- Next step is to now take the 1st Tipped End and bring it from the Underside, through the Eyelet to the Topside and pull the lacing through.
- Next do the same with the 2nd Tipped End – pull it through from under the Stays towards the Topside and pull the rest of the lacing through. You have just created the 2nd cross but this one is on the inside – hence why we call it a Double Crossed Lacing.
- Technically, this pattern gets repeated until you’ve laced it upto the top, doing a cross over and a cross under, coming from underneath…but the next photos should show this.
- This shows the second ‘Over Cross’ being created, the next cross will be an ‘Under Cross’ and gets created by coming from UNDER the eyelet and out to the top. Follow this pattern all the way up until you get to the last holes.
- At this stage, tighten it all up at this stage so that it sits comfortably and voile! you have yourself a Double Crossed Laced up pair of stays!
- Here you can see it in how it looks with the bow tied and with it tightened up a little bit more. Always tighten your stays to your own comfort.
