Crafting A Crystal Wedding Veil: A Guide

Wedding veils can be expensive, but making your own veil is a great way to save money and ensure you get the veil of your dreams. This guide will take you through the process of making a wedding veil with crystals, from the materials you need to the steps to assemble your veil.

Materials

To make a wedding veil with crystals, you will need the following materials:

- Tulle

- A hair comb

- Ribbon

- Rolled hem foot

- Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat

- A long ruler or meter stick

- Fabric marker

- Thimble (optional)

- Crystals or rhinestones

- Hot-fix applicator or tough fabric glue

Steps

1. Prepare the fabric by pressing it gently and on low heat. Remove any stains or threads.

2. Decide on the length and shape of your veil. Cut the fabric to the desired length, allowing for seam allowance and gathers.

3. Trim the corners into the desired shape (rounded rectangle, oval, or circle).

4. Hem the edges of the veil. You can use a rolled hem or a trimmed hem.

5. Prepare the comb by wrapping it with tulle, ribbon, or garment tape. This will create a platform to stitch the veil to.

6. Gather the veil fabric, if desired. Most veils have two layers, with one layer slightly longer than the other.

7. Pin the veil to the comb and check the style before sewing.

8. Stitch the veil to the comb by hand.

9. Cover the gathered edge with ribbon, if desired.

10. Attach the crystals or rhinestones to the veil using a hot-fix applicator or fabric glue.

Choosing the right crystals

Colour

The colour of your crystals should complement the overall aesthetic of your wedding. Clear crystals are a popular choice for bridal veils, offering a subtle sparkle that blends seamlessly. However, if you're looking for something more unique, Swarovski offers a wide range of crystal colours to choose from. Consider the colour of your wedding dress, the theme of your wedding, and the overall effect you want to achieve when selecting your crystal colour.

Size

Crystals come in various sizes, from small rhinestones to larger, more prominent stones. Consider the size of your veil and the overall look you want to achieve. Smaller crystals will give an all-over subtle sparkle, while larger crystals will create a bolder, more statement look.

Type of Crystals

There are three main types of crystals that can be added to a veil: non-hotfix flatback crystals, hotfix flatback crystals, and sew-on beads or pearls. Non-hotfix flatback crystals, also known as rhinestones, are multi-faceted crystals with a flat foiled backing. They are easy to apply using adhesive, and no expensive tools are required. Hotfix crystals have a heat-sensitive coating on the back and can be applied using a hotfix applicator tool or an iron. Sew-on beads or pearls are another option, where crystals or pearls are stitched into the veil using a clear nylon thread or matching colour cotton.

Amount of Crystals

Decide on the amount of crystals you want on your veil. A light application of crystals can add a subtle touch of sparkle, while a heavier application will create a more dramatic effect. Consider the style of your wedding dress and the overall look you want to achieve. If your dress already has a lot of detail, you may want to opt for a lighter application of crystals on your veil.

Placement of Crystals

Think about the placement of the crystals on your veil. You can scatter them randomly across the veil or focus them on the edges. If you're adding crystals to a veil with layers, consider placing more crystals on the bottom layer for a cascading effect. You can also add crystals to the blusher layer if you want them to be visible when it is pulled over your face.

Double-Sided Crystals

If you want your veil to sparkle from every angle, consider using double-sided crystals. This ensures that the crystals will catch the light and shine, even when the wind blows or when the blusher layer is pulled back. Double-sided crystals add extra sparkle and glamour to your veil.

Veil length and fabric type

Veil length will depend on the type of veil you want to make. For example, a fingertip veil will fall to the bride's fingertips, whereas a cathedral veil will reach the floor. It's important to measure the wearer's height and desired veil length before purchasing the fabric. The amount of fabric required will also depend on the number of layers and the desired fullness of the veil.

For very long veils, such as cathedral-length veils, using a wider fabric will result in more volume. However, if the veil is too wide, it may not drape well and could overtake the aisle. For most veils, a width of 72 inches (6 feet or 2 meters) is sufficient.

When cutting the fabric to size, it's important to cut the length first and then trim the corners to create the desired shape, such as a rounded rectangle or an oval. This will ensure that the corners of the fabric are even and at 90-degree angles.

In terms of fabric type, tulle is a popular choice for wedding veils as it is lightweight and dreamy. However, other fabrics such as organza, fine cotton, or linen can also be used, ensuring that the bride will be able to see through the fabric.

When adding crystals to the veil, it's important to consider their placement. As the top of the veil will be gathered, it is recommended to place fewer crystals at the top and more towards the bottom. This will ensure that the veil sparkles and shines, especially when the blusher layer is pulled back.

Hemming options

There are two ways to finish the edges of a veil—a rolled hem or a trimmed hem. A rolled hem is created with a machine's rolled hem foot, but can also be done by hand. A trimmed hem can be made with any trim that goes all the way around the edge of the veil. A grosgrain or satin ribbon is a common choice found in larger stores.

To sew a trimmed hem:

• Pin the trim to the veil's border with wrong sides together. Overlap a few inches and tuck under the ends of the trim to prevent fraying.
• Sew all the way around, working as close to the edge of the fabric and trim as possible.
• Flip the trim so the right side is now showing on top of the right side of the veil. Press carefully and on low heat. Pin in place as you press.
• Stitch the trim down on the right side of the fabric, again working close to the edge. If using a delicate trim, you may need to do this by hand.

To create a rolled hem with a machine:

• Begin along one side of the veil with the wrong side up. Insert the fabric into the rolled hem foot so that the needle is starting over a piece of rolled fabric. Lower the foot and begin to sew.
• Work all the way around the veil's hem, overlapping just a little bit.
• After finishing the hem, check all the way around, looking for places where the hem needs to be corrected—fix these by hand as needed.
• Press the veil with a low iron to keep the hem in check.

To create a rolled hem by hand:

Use a needle and thread to create a whip stitch along the edge of the veil.

If you need the veil right away, skip hemming and be very careful handling the veil so the edges don't fray or get caught on anything.

Veil shape

The shape of the veil is determined by two things: the location of the hair comb and the amount of fabric gathered into the comb. The fabric's stiffness will also affect the overall "floofiness" of the veil, but not the shape.

There are several types of veils, including the cascading side two-tier slash centre-gathered veil, the standard veil, and the mantilla veil. The shape of the veil will also depend on how the material is cut. Generally, it's either an oval, circle, or rounded rectangle. Very few veils will use sharp corners as this makes hemming much more difficult.

For a cascading veil, the comb is near the centre of the veil and only the centre third of the width is gathered into the comb. For a standard veil, the comb gathers all or nearly all of the fabric width into the comb, creating a straighter fall to the floor. For a mantilla veil, very little fabric is gathered into the comb, creating a smoother look with more even edges around the side.

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. If you want a mantilla-style veil, no gathers are needed.

Attaching the veil to a comb

Now that you've cut your veil to the desired length and shape, it's time to attach it to the comb. This process will involve gathering the veil fabric and stitching it to the comb. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Prepare the comb

Wrap the comb with a strip of tulle or ribbon to create a platform for stitching the veil. Cut a strip of tulle or ribbon about 1 inch wide and long enough to wrap around the comb. Starting at one end, wrap the strip around the comb a few times, then continue wrapping and working your way across the comb, covering the starting end of the strip as you go. Adjust the number of wraps to control the bulk at the comb. When you reach the other side, wrap the end a few times and trim any excess. Stitch the end of the strip in place by hand.

Step 2: Gather the veil fabric

If you want a blusher, you will attach the comb to the underside of the veil, and you can skip the folding step. For most veils, you will have two layers of fabric. Fold the veil in half widthwise. Mark the area where you will gather the fabric, usually the centre third of the fabric along the fold for a cascading veil or the entire width for a standard veil. Baste along the gather line using a running stitch, about a quarter-inch from the fold. You can also use a sewing machine with the longest stitch size. For more control over the gathers, baste twice, about a quarter-inch apart.

Step 3: Pin the veil to the comb

Pull on the basting threads to gather the fabric to the size of the comb. You may not need to pull the threads tightly, depending on the desired look. Pin the gathers in place along the top of the comb. Secure the ends of the basting threads by wrapping them around a pin and pinning them to the veil. If you are not creating gathers, simply lay out your veil fabric and pin it to the comb.

Step 4: Stitch the veil to the comb

Using a needle and thread, stitch the veil to the comb by hand. Work the needle into the wrapped fabric on the comb, keeping your stitches small and ensuring that each gather is securely stitched. Remove the basting threads when you are finished.

Step 5: Cover the gathered edge (optional)

Cut a length of ribbon that is slightly longer than your comb. You can melt the ends of the ribbon with a flame if it is made of grosgrain or another synthetic fibre. Pin the ribbon along the top of the comb, covering the gathered edge and any stitching. Stitch the ribbon in place along the top and bottom, wrapping the ends around the back of the comb. If you are using a natural fibre ribbon, tuck the ends under before stitching to prevent fraying.

Your veil is now securely attached to the comb! You can adjust the gathers and styling as needed before the final step of trimming any excess fabric or thread.

Frequently asked questions