Well... crap.

[my_stitching]

Don't you hate it when you can't find the appropriate thing for a project you are working on? I decided to make myself a new gown for the Lancers Ball in Wales in April. Yes, I KNOW that today is April 1st. :p  Anyway, the fabric is gorgeous. It is a damask, I suppose, rather than a brocade. It is green. Sort of an apple green though not bright like an apple green. Not grey enough to be sage either. Very pretty color though. Cotton but the pattern has a very slight sheen to it in the same color as the rest. I am making it in a style with sleeves as I know the fabric will be too warm for a ballgown most of the year. I thought I could use it for this ball as a ballgown and then use it as a dinner or evening gown during the festival. It wouldn't be too hot to wear in the summer, just too hot to dance in, if you know what I mean. Anyway, the skirt is just plain over a crinoline. The fabric is so pretty it doesn't really need skirt decoration. The bodice is going to have sleeves which go to the elbow trimmed with longish lace similar to an 18th century gown. The bertha will also be trimmed with lace. I have the pattern already fitted so it is just a matter of cutting the bugger out and sewing it together. Oh yeah... except that I can't find the right friggin lace!! Gah! I have ordered at least 4 laces so far including one that was too expensive. None of them look good. The white looks really bad. The ivory is meh and the gold (even a delicate non-metallic one) doesn't look right either. *sigh* I have a lace that is sort of a very yellowish creme which looks nice color-wise but the lace itself isn't really the right thing.

I am toying with the idea of doing a self ruffle, but I think that will look rubbish as the fabric is not super thin.

Ideas?

[edited to add: I have several other laces on the way that may work, but I am not very hopeful so looking for a plan B]

[also edited to add a picture of the fabric in case it helps - color is fairly close on my monitor]