Crafting A Wedding Veil: A Step-By-Step Guide

Making your own wedding veil is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your big day. It's also a fun project to do with a friend or family member. Here's a step-by-step guide to making a wedding veil:

Step 1: Choose your veil style and length

There are several veil styles to choose from, including blusher, elbow-length, waist-length, hip-length, fingertip, waltz, ankle, chapel, and cathedral. Decide which style you prefer and measure the length you want your veil to be.

Step 2: Gather your materials

You will need tulle or another fabric such as organza or fine cotton/linen, a hair comb, ribbon, a rolled hem foot, fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat, a long ruler or metre stick, and a fabric marker. You may also want to use beads or lace for decoration.

Step 3: Cut the fabric

Lay the fabric on a large table and cut it to the desired length, keeping it folded in half lengthwise. Then, fold it in half crosswise and cut the edges to create a rounded shape.

Step 4: Hem the edges

You can finish the edges of the veil with a rolled hem or a trimmed hem. For a rolled hem, use a sewing machine with a rolled hem foot. For a trimmed hem, pin a piece of trim such as satin ribbon along the edge of the veil and sew it in place.

Step 5: Gather the fabric

Decide how much of the fabric you want to gather into the comb. You can gather just the centre or the full width of the fabric, depending on the style you want. Use a needle and thread to gather the fabric and attach it to the comb.

Step 6: Add decorations (optional)

If you want to add beads, lace, or other decorations to your veil, now is the time to do it. Sew or glue them in place along the edges or scattered across the veil.

Choosing the right fabric

The fabric you choose for your veil is important, as it will determine how your veil hangs and how full it looks. Here are some tips for choosing the right fabric:

• Tulle is the most common fabric for veils. It is available in different widths, usually 72" and 108", and the wider the tulle, the fuller your veil will be. Tulle is also available in different colours, so you can choose one that matches your wedding dress.
• If you are making a long veil, such as a cathedral veil, it is best to use a wider fabric, such as 108" tulle, to give your veil a nice full look.
• Other fabrics that can be used for veils include organza and very fine cotton or linen fabric.
• If you are using a fabric that frays when cut, such as tulle, you will need to hem the edges of your veil. You can do this with a rolled hem or a trimmed hem.
• If you are adding a trim to the edge of your veil, such as lace or ribbon, choose a trim that is thin and lightweight so that it doesn't weigh down your veil.
• If you are adding embellishments to your veil, such as beads or pearls, choose lightweight options that will not weigh down your veil.

Cutting the veil to size

Step 1: Measure and Cut the Veil

First, decide on the length of the veil. The veil can be cut to any length, but standard lengths include: blusher (22 inches), elbow (25 inches), waist (30 inches), mid-hip (33 inches), hip (36 inches), fingertip (45 inches), waltz (54 inches), ankle (70 inches), chapel (90 inches), and cathedral (108 inches).

Next, measure the length of the veil. Place one end of a measuring tape where you plan to attach the comb and run the tape down your back to the desired length. Write down this measurement.

If you are making a two-tier, drop, or full veil, you will need to make an additional measurement. Place the measuring tape where the comb will be attached and run it over the crown of your head, down the front of your face, to your collarbone. Write down this measurement.

Finally, cut the veil to the desired length. If making a single-tier veil, cut the fabric to the first measurement. If making a two-tier, drop, or full veil, add the two measurements together and cut the fabric to this length.

Step 2: Round the Corners (Optional)

If you want to round the corners of the veil, fold the fabric in half lengthwise and then widthwise so that all four corners are stacked together. Pin along the edges to prevent the layers from slipping. Use a large piece of paper to mark where you want the corner curve to start and end, then freehand a line with a pencil. Place the paper underneath the fabric and use a fabric marker to transfer the curve. Cut along the line to create four identical curves.

Step 3: Fold the Fabric (For Two-Tier, Drop, or Full Veils)

If you are making a two-tier, drop, or full veil, unfold the fabric and fold the top edge down so that it lays on top of the bottom layer. Adjust the length of the top layer to match the length of the blusher.

Step 4: Gather the Fabric (For Two-Tier, Drop, or Full Veils)

Thread a needle and insert it through both layers of fabric near the fold. Stitch across the width of the veil, gathering the material as you go. When you reach the other side, make sure the length of the gathered material matches the length of your comb. Knot the thread and cut off the needle.

Step 5: Attach the Comb

Place the comb, curved side up, on top of the gathered edge. Stitch the veil to the comb by placing two to three stitches around each tooth.

Tips

• Tulle is the most common fabric for veils, but you can also use silk organza or other lightweight fabrics.
• Use a rotary cutter instead of hand scissors to cut tulle to avoid choppy edges.
• If you are a novice, choose a simple lace trim for the edges.
• Blusher veils should be cut in a circle, not in two separate pieces, so that it drapes without peek-a-boo at the sides of the face.

Adding a blusher

To add a blusher to your veil, you'll need to cut your tulle to the desired length, which is usually about 22 inches. You can either cut the blusher as a separate piece or fold your tulle to create a two-tiered veil. If you're cutting a separate piece, you'll need to attach it to your comb or clip. If you're folding your tulle, you'll need to gather the top layer of tulle and attach it to your comb or clip.

• Cut your tulle to the desired length for your blusher, usually about 22 inches.
• Round off the corners of the blusher to create a soft, curved edge.
• Gather the top edge of the blusher and attach it to your comb or clip, making sure that the right side of the fabric is facing up.
• Stitch the blusher securely to the comb or clip.

If you're creating a two-tiered veil with a blusher, follow these steps:

• Cut your tulle to the desired length for your veil, making sure to add the length of the blusher.
• Fold your tulle in half widthwise to create two layers.
• Round off the corners of the tulle to create a soft, curved edge.
• Fold the top layer of tulle down to create the blusher. Adjust the length of the blusher as needed.
• Stitch across the width of the veil near the fold, gathering the fabric as you go.
• Attach the comb or clip to the gathered edge of the veil, making sure that the blusher is the top layer.

Attaching the veil to a comb

Step 1: Prepare the comb

• You will need a piece of tulle about 1 inch wide and about a yard long.
• Starting at one end of the comb, hold the end of the tulle strip in place with your thumb.
• Then, begin to wrap the tulle around the end of the comb about 3-4 times.
• Wrap your way across the comb, working 2-3 wraps between each of the comb's teeth and covering the starting end of the strip.
• Adjust the number of wraps depending on how much bulk you want at the comb.
• When you reach the other side, wrap 3-4 times around the end of the comb, then pull the remaining bit of the strip around the back of the comb towards the centre.
• Trim the excess strip and fold under the end so no raw edges are showing.
• Pin in place and stitch the end of the strip into place by hand.
• If needed, stitch the ends to themselves as well to prevent any slipping.

Step 2: Gather the veil

• For most veils, you will have two layers of fabric.
• If you want a blusher, the comb will go on the underside (wrong side) of the veil and you will not need to fold the fabric in half first.
• If you want a mantilla-style veil, skip this step entirely — no gathers are needed.
• To get started gathering, fold the fabric in half widthwise.
• Most veils leave one layer a bit longer than the other — now is the time to play around with that option.
• Mark with pins where you will gather the fabric. This determines the shape of the veil.
• For a cascading veil, gather the centre 1/3 of the fabric along the fold.
• For a standard veil, gather all the way along the width of the fabric.
• Using a running stitch, baste along the gather line, staying within the area you marked with pins (use a sewing machine on the longest stitch size to do this in a hurry).
• Best practice when gathering is to do this twice about 1/4 inch apart and about 1/4 inch from the fold. This will give you the most control when gathering the fabric.
• Pull on the ends of the basting threads to gather the fabric to the size of the comb.
• For most veils, this will not mean pulling as tightly as possible.

Step 3: Pin the veil to the comb

• Pin the gathers into place along the top of the comb.
• Hold the ends of the basting threads in place by wrapping them tightly around a pin and pinning to the veil.
• For non-gathered veils, lay out your veil fabric and decide where you want the comb to be. Then, pin to the comb.
• STOP and check the style before sewing! This is the only time when it will be easy to change the shape of the veil. If you're stitching solo, you can use the timer on your camera to get a photo while you model the veil.

Step 4: Stitch the veil to the comb

• By hand, stitch the veil to the comb, working the needle into the wrapped fabric from before.
• Keep your stitches small and make sure every gather is stitched down.
• When finished, remove the basting threads from earlier.

Step 5: Cover the gathered edge (optional)

• This step is completely optional, but makes for a prettier comb. Skip if you're pressed for time.
• Cut a length of ribbon the size of your comb plus a few inches.
• If you're using grosgrain ribbon, carefully use a flame to melt the ends of the ribbon (do not do this with natural fibres).
• Pin the ribbon in place along the comb so that it covers the edges of the gathers and the stitching from attaching the veil to the comb.
• Stitch into place along the top and bottom, wrapping the ends of the ribbon around the back of the comb.
• For natural fibre ribbons, tuck under the ends of the ribbon before stitching into place to prevent fraying.
• For veils where the comb is completely underneath the tulle, the ribbon won't wrap around. Simply tuck under the ends and keep the ribbon along the top of the comb.

Adding decorations

• Sew or glue lace to the edges of your veil. You can use a simple straight stitch or a more decorative stitch, such as a whipstitch. If you are using a sewing machine, use a wide zigzag stitch to secure the lace.
• Add beads, pearls, rhinestones, or other small decorative items to the veil. You can sew these on by hand or use a hot glue gun.
• Embellish the veil with artificial flowers, pom-poms, bows, or embroidery.
• Add a satin ribbon trim to the edges of the veil. You can sew this on by hand or with a sewing machine.
• Create a monogram or custom beadwork on the veil.
• Use a decorative comb or clip to attach the veil to your hair. You can find these at craft stores or online.
• If you are making a two-tier veil, you can add decorations to just the blusher (the shorter layer that covers the bride's face) or to both layers.

Frequently asked questions