The first step in the making of Alençon lace is drawing. Composed of several phases, it begins with a preparatory study that culminates in a sketch drawn for plastic purposes. This first sketch serves as the basis for a technical line drawing made on tracing paper. The third and last drawing is a trompe l'oeil to guide the lacemakers during manufacture. During the following step, called stitching, the technical drawing on tracing paper is superimposed on a parchment on which its lines are transferred.