All that is required is some form of lacing, from something as simple as ribbon to a more elaborate cording. You can make your own lacing or purchase any type of narrow, continuous strand. With this type of lacing in mind, keep in mind that holes must be made in the fabric and then reinforced. The more traditional reinforcements are eyelets and grommets, but fabric loops or hand worked thread eyelets may also be used.
Usually a walk through the notions department of a fabric store will provide plenty of inspiration as to what you can implement into lacing. But don't forget to walk through craft stores, jewelry-making supply stores as well as a shoemaker's shop for dozens of ideas.
Cable cord can be as simple as twisted cotton. Cotton is often used as a filler in piping or try a truly decorative cord made of twisted or tightly braided rayon or silk strands just to mention a couple of ideas for you. Plain, white cotton cable cord is often used as a drawstring or as a lacing on casual garments. If you desire a customized cord, this can be covered with fabric.
Cotton lace (a narrow, braided cotton cord) has a matte texture and is used in jewelry making. Rattail (also used in jewelry making) is a narrow, round cord made of rayon. This type of cord accepts dyes very well, making it the perfect choice when matching hard-to-find colors.
What about strands of leather and suede? To me, the use of leather or suede adds a more rugged appearance to an item. Remember the easiest way to cut leather or suede is with a rotary cutter or knife. Although leather and suede are more expensive than many fabrics, one of the assets of using them is that there is no need to finish any of the edges because they never ravel.
Then, there are the age-old standbys of shoelaces. The ends are already finished with a plastic coating. Boot laces (another option) are often made of leather and make wonderful laces for leather garments.
Ribbons (like cords) are everywhere these days and come in many different forms and have the ability to transform an ordinary item into something very special. By selecting a few different ribbons, you can change the look of the garment periodically to suit the occasion or your mood.
In most cases you will also need eyelets or grommets which are round metal reinforcements for holes made in fabrics and belts. The most common types are either gold or silver and are usually made from nickel, brass, or gilt-finished aluminum.
Generally, eyelets are smaller than grommets and are used on lighter weight fabrics.
Grommets have two pieces; a grommet and a washer. These types are used on tarps, tents, backpacks, shower curtains and other canvas products.
Both eyelets and grommets are easy to apply with specialty pliers or hammers.
Lacing supplies are generally inexpensive to purchase - depending on what style and color you choose.
Do the lacing supplies seem expensive to you when it changes the appearance of your garment?
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