What is a French Knot?

No, it's not the newest five star restaurant, it's a unique embroidery technique! The method involves the yarn or thread knotting around itself. Below is a little peak into the intricacy of the embroidery:

Our friends at SFERRA specialize in the French Knot technique and offer beautiful table linens featuring the elegant style. As each piece is hand-crafted, from the hand-embroidered knots to the hand-drawn hemstitch, no two are ever the same. The subtle differences make each piece unique- a work of art! Each stitch is skillfully done by hand on the very finest Italian fabrics. A Touch of Lace is proud to offer these sophisticated linens so stop by today to pick out your very own piece of French Knot perfection!

A Touch of Lace is Famous!

A Touch of Lace had the unique pleasure of being featured on Fox 2 News this past Wednesday! Chuck Bennett, a local style guru, was invited to share his favorite Holiday Hostess Ideas. And of course he hand picked some beautiful pieces from A Touch of Lace's showroom! If you missed our debut, don't worry. You can watch the clip right here on our blog. Enjoy and remember to stop in A Touch of Lace to fulfill all your holiday needs!

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/mornings/holiday-hostess-gift-ideas-20111214

Fill Power Revealed

As the temperature starts to drop, our down comforters are flying off the shelves. If you're unsure on what comforter is your best fit, you're in luck! A Touch of Lace and Sferra are here to offer a little insight into the wonderful world of fill power in down comforters...

Fill power is a measurement of efficiency; the higher the fill power number, the better the down and the greater the insulating value. The fill power measurement represents the number of cubic inches filled by an ounce of down.

Fill power is directly related to the size of the down cluster. Large down clusters occupy more space than smaller down clusters. The higher the fill power, the larger the clusters, and thus, the more air that is trapped between the clusters. The trapped air is what gives down its insulating properties.

The size of the bird and the climate in which it lives, determines the size of its down cluster. The colder the climate, the larger the down cluster required to keep the bird warm. For example, it is colder in Canada than it is in Hungary. Therefore, the birds need larger down clusters in Canada to stay warm.

Sferra's down collection presents various options of white goose down fill power: Buxton (600+ European), Somerset (700+ Polish), Cardigan (800+ Siberian), and Snowdon (900+ Canadian).

Order yours today from A Touch of Lace!

Molto and Bello

Sferra offers an array of luxurious towels. Many of our clients seem to have the same concerns about the craftmanship and care of their towels. Among these concerns is whether or not some towels are chlorine resistant. Well we're happy to let you know Sferra offers TWO types that are in fact chlorine resistant: Molto and Bello. Here's a little inside information for you brought to you by Sferra...

Unlike most towels, Molto and Bello towels are chlorine resistant in standard household conditions, such as contact with swimming pool water or other liquids containing chlorite in a practical reduced degree. Those nasty streaks of bleached fading won't be a problem for Molto and Bello if you accidentally add a bit of chlorine bleach to the wash. Sferra uses a special dyeing process with a state-of-the-art synthesis and finishing technology; a full range of dyes with maximum fastness to light, weather, washing and chlorine. Only direct and intense contact with chlorite will result in bleaching risk.

Unfortunately, organic peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxides, which are used in certain acne treatment creams, pose a challenge. No dye is resistant to benzoyl peroxide. When using products with organic peroxides, it is always recommended to use a white towel.

Molto and Bello are woven in Belgium by a family-owned mill that also makes the best towels in the world for the major European luxury brands. Sferra