12/01/2013
How to Make a Bridal Veil
Making your own bridal veil is easier than you may think. To get started, you will need the following materials; all of these items can be found at an art supply store or a fabric shop.
1. Tulle in 108" width - Tulle is sometimes referred to as "bridal illusion". Tulle is recommended because it requires no finishing. You can use other fabric, but you'll have to finish the raw edges. The length of tulle needed depends on your height and the style of veil. Use the following guidelines to get the perfect length, keep in mind you may want to purchase extra: Shoulder Length ("blusher") 18" - 24", Waist Length 30", Fingertip Length 38" - 40", Floor Length ("chapel") 60" - 72", Cathedral Length 108" or longer.
2. Needle and Sturdy Thread - Make sure the thread color matches that of your tulle.
3. Fabric Scissors
4. Dressmaker's chalk or a soft pencil
5. Weighted objects such as books - These will be used to anchor the tulle while you work with it.
6. An Attachment - This is a mechanism such as a comb, clip or headband that will be used to secure the veil.
7. Adhesive - This can be either a hot glue gun, glue sticks or fabric`glue.
8. Decorative Elements - Items such as pearls, beads, sequins and crystal can be used to make your veil beautiful and one of a kind.
To get started on making your veil, lay the tulle on a clean, flat surface. Fold the tulle in half lengthwise, and place weighted objects along its edges to keep it still. Use the dressmaker's chalk trace a curve along the bottom edge of the tulle. Use the fabric shears to cut along the line you drew, then unfold the tulle.
Next take the needle and thread, and sew the top straight edge using a running stitch across the entire length. Once you have reached the other end and stitched across the full length of the top edge of your veil, you want to cinch the two outer edges together by pulling the thread out and pushing the tulle in. After the tulle is cinched, knot the open end of the thread securely and cut off the excess. This step is important because it will make the top of your veil small enough to fit securely on your attachment comb or headband. The next step is to glue or sew the top of your veil to the attachment mechanism.
The structure of your veil is now complete, the final step is to decorate it! This is your chance to be creative and customize your veil. Save leftover material from your dress, if you have alterations, to decorate your veil; this will allow you to match your veil to your dress. You might also want to use a ribbon, fabric or extra beading to cover the comb or headband on your veil to make it look polished.
