Finishing ends of lacing cord?

[gem]

My current gown is a stash project, and I found a whole reel of black nylon soutache for lacing cord, and a pack of small silver jewelry toggles for lacing rings. Win! 

Here's where I *always* run into trouble.

1.) What's the best way to finish the ends of the cord so they don't fray but still fit through the lacing holes? I tested the soutache to see if it would melt, but it burned instead, alas. The lacers are too small for the normal metal aglets/bolo ties. What else can I do? Maybe a little dab of glue?

2.) What's the best way to secure the ends of the lacing itself (spiral lacing, where you don't just conveniently tie the two ends together)? For fittings, I've just been tying the ends to the lacing rings themselves, but it's too messy-looking for real wear, since the lacing rings are exposed and there's nowhere to tuck the ends back.

Ideas?
Gramercy!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Seal the ends with Fraycheck, and whip some matching thread round them.  Stiffen the whole thing with clear nail varnish.

[isabelladangelo]

I use the clear nail polish as well for ribbons and cording as well.  It works for up to 10 washes and then you just reapply it. 

[Irma]

I tried using shrink tubing on the ends of some cotton laces, but eventually they slid off.  Since the ends of my cord on my gown is not exposed, I sent mine to The Fitting Room in California.  They have a tool that crimps an aiglet on the ends.  She only does nickle finish.  It's not decorative, but it is very secure.  I use rattail to fasten the front of my gown.  It's not spiral laced, but I did my own version of ladder lacing.  My cord is twice as long as I need.  I threaded the cord onto the first ring, and pulled it through so that I have two equal pieces.  I laced both cords through the rings, and when I got to the end, I separated the two pieces, and tied them in a knot and small bow, and tucked the ends back from the front opening back towards the side seams.  The lose ends hung down on the inside of the skirt.  Everything was so tight, they pretty much stayed there.

[Butch]

I use a narrow zigzag machine stitch for the tops of my breeches for lacing them into my doublet.  The points are a cotton cord, so I cannot burn the ends.  The zigzag works great!  No fraying at all.

[Sunshine]

It's not remotely period, but in a pinch you can either wrap a bit of scotch tape around the ends of the cords to make quick aglets. Or you can forget stiffening the ends at all and just use a needle with a large eye to thread the cords though the eyelets. I like to use ribbon to lace my bodice, since it comes in pretty colors and I've got it lying around anyway, so I usually use the latter method.

As for tying it off, you can try this site. I usually just make a hash of things and create knots that I have to pick apart later, but ribbon isn't too bad to unknot so it works out.

http://centuries-sewing.com/2011/09/09/how-to-tie-off-spiral-lacing/

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I know this isn't the answer to your question, but a month afo at Joanne's, they had some parachute cord (also called 550 card), on sale for $1.99 less the 25% discount.  I bought it and thought, what the heck.....

I think it makes awesome bodice ties.  I put a match to the ends, and it melted together so it doesn't fray, but it is still small enough to fit through the holes.  I bought the black, but it comes in a lot of different colors.  It never came undone or loosened up throughout the whole day at faire.

Ont thing, though.  I tie my laces in a double knot from top to bottom, then stick the leftovers underneath.  I found this cord doesn't tie into a good bow, so if you like to tie your laces in a bow, you might not be happy with the bow on this.

[Elennare]

I usually finish the ends by whipping them with thread, then coating in clear nail polish if I really want to make sure it stays.  If I'm in a rush, I skip the nail polish. 

If you've got clear nail polish, you don't need to spend the money on Fraycheck, as it's essentially the same thing.

[arbcoind]

Clear nail polish.  I use it for just about anything that frays. OT:  but it also works great to keep eyeglass screws from working their way out.

Gina

[mollymishap]

I know this isn't the answer to your question, but a month afo at Joanne's, they had some parachute cord (also called 550 card), on sale for $1.99 less the 25% discount.  I bought it and thought, what the heck.....

I think it makes awesome bodice ties.  I put a match to the ends, and it melted together so it doesn't fray, but it is still small enough to fit through the holes.  I bought the black, but it comes in a lot of different colors.  It never came undone or loosened up throughout the whole day at faire.

Ont thing, though.  I tie my laces in a double knot from top to bottom, then stick the leftovers underneath.  I found this cord doesn't tie into a good bow, so if you like to tie your laces in a bow, you might not be happy with the bow on this.

Lady Renee, I've used 550 Paracord also, but I "gut" it first, meaning: I cut it into the length that I think I will need, then pull out the 7 mini-strands of cord that are inside the outer, colorful sheath, then cut the ends of the sheath at an angle, then GO OUTSIDE and melt the cut ends into a suitable point.  I say go outside because the fumes are somethin' else!  Anyway, you can then tie the paracord into a neat bow because the sheath will effectively flatten once "gutted" and be easier to work with.

Gem, I've also used some thick craft wire, cut into inch long pieces to form an "invisible" aiglet of sorts by basically wrapping the ribbon around the wire, securing it tightly with hand stitching above and below the wire.  As long as you have a wide enough ribbon it works very well.  Just make sure you don't have sharp ends to the wire or they may poke out.

[609wood]

I have replaced most boot laces and corset laces with 7 strand para cord that has had he white core removed. It's light weight, incredibly strong and does not bind or kink.  Best part is you can melt the ends together.