Creating A Wedding Veil: No-Sew, All-Glow!

Making your own wedding veil is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your big day. Here's a step-by-step guide to making a wedding veil without a sewing machine.

Step 1: Measure and Cut the Tulle

First, decide how long you want your veil to be. Typical veil lengths include shoulder, elbow, fingertip, floor, chapel, and cathedral. Then, purchase tulle fabric that is around 72 inches wide for a shorter veil, or 108 inches wide for a longer veil. Cut the bottom of the tulle into a rounded rectangle, if desired, or leave it rectangular.

Step 2: Add Trim (Optional)

Consider adding some trim to the bottom edge of the veil, such as beaded trim or narrow, white satin ribbon. Sew the trim onto the edge of the veil, either by hand or using a sewing machine.

Step 3: Sew the Top Edge

Sew across the top, straight edge of the veil, either by hand or using a sewing machine. For a full veil, sew all the way across the top edge. For a less full veil, sew only across the center part, leaving a gap on either side.

Step 4: Gather the Tulle

Gather your stitching by gently tugging on the end of the thread until the tulle gathers to the same width as your hair comb, about 2 to 4 inches. Tie off the thread and cut off the excess.

Step 5: Attach the Veil to the Comb

Match up the top edge of the veil with the top edge of the comb and sew the veil to the comb, either by hand or using a sewing machine. Wrap the thread around the comb and between the teeth. Tie off the thread and cut off the excess.

Step 6: Decorate the Comb (Optional)

Decorate the comb with pearls, silk flowers, beads, or rhinestones that match your wedding dress. You can sew these on by hand or use fabric glue.

Measure and cut the tulle

The first step to making your own wedding veil is to measure the length of tulle you will need. The length of your veil will depend on the style you want. A blusher veil, for example, is shoulder-length, while an ankle veil sits just above the floor.

Once you have decided on the length, you will need to purchase your tulle. The width of the tulle will depend on the fullness you want. For a fuller veil, use 108-inch wide tulle. For a less full veil, 72-inch wide tulle will work.

Now it's time to cut your tulle. If you want a simple veil without any rounded edges, you can simply cut your tulle to the desired length. If you want a more rounded look, you will need to fold your tulle in half lengthwise and then again crosswise. Then, cut the top left corner off at an angle so that when you unfold the fabric, you have a rounded rectangle.

If you want a blusher veil, cut your tulle in a circle.

Sew the tulle

Step 1: Cut the Tulle to the Desired Length

Lay the tulle out on a large table or a clean floor, keeping it folded in half lengthwise. Put the folded edge nearest to you. At this point, you have two layers of tulle.

Now, fold the tulle in half crosswise by grabbing the rightmost edge and folding it over so that it touches the leftmost edge. At this point, you have four layers of tulle.

Measure again how long you want the tulle to be (from the top of your head down) and cut the tulle to that length (keep it folded).

Step 2: Round Out the Corners of the Tulle

Now, round off the top left edge of the fabric by pinning to mark it and then cutting in a smooth motion. If you need a guide, try a large serving platter. You want to be left with a quarter-circle shape.

Step 3: Refold the Tulle into Veil Layers

Unfold the tulle completely. At this point, you have one layer of tulle. The dashed orange lines below show where the folds used to be:

Fold the tulle crosswise from right to left, but you don't have to bring it all the way over. You can match the ends up for a single-length veil or you can leave a few inches between the edges for a nice layered look. If you keep a shorter layer, it can be used as a blusher if you like. At this point, you should verify that the length is exactly what you want and if it's too long, cut one of the rounded ends shorter, as needed.

Turn the veil 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that the folded edge is at the top, farthest away from you, and the open rounded edges are closest to you.

Don't be surprised if the veil seems wider than it is long, especially if you are using really wide tulle or making a fairly short veil. Once you gather it all up in the following step, the proportions will make a lot more sense.

Step 4: Gather the Centre of the Tulle

You will now have to decide whether or not you want the side edges of your veil's two layers to come all the way up to the top. If you choose to have the edges come up to the top, the top of your veil will be fuller and puffier.

This decision is particularly noticeable if you plan to put a ribbon trim on the edges because the ribbon will clearly be only at the bottom or will go up to your head, depending on your choice. This diagram illustrates the two variations:

Once you choose from these two styles, you will be ready to gather the top of your veil. Depending on your choice, you will either gather up only the centre portion of your tulle (diagram on the left) or you'll gather the entire width of the tulle (diagram on the right).

Once you have decided how much tulle to gather, do so with a needle and strong thread, weaving in and out with small stitches.

Pull the thread to gather the stitched tulle so that it is only about 2 inches wide. Knot the thread securely.

Hold the tulle by the gathered area and give it a gentle shake, which will allow the sides to fall gracefully down with the rest of the tulle.

Gather the tulle

Tulle is a type of netting that is used to make wedding veils. It is available in different widths, with 72" and 108" being the most common. The wider the tulle, the fuller the veil will be.

To make a veil, you will need to decide how long you want it to be. A typical veil would come down to your fingertips, but other popular lengths include shoulder, elbow, floor, chapel, and cathedral.

Once you have decided on the length, you will need to purchase the tulle. You will need twice as much tulle as the length you want the veil to be. For example, if you want a fingertip veil, you will need 6-8 feet of tulle.

After you have purchased the tulle, you will need to cut it to the desired length. If you are making a blusher veil, cut it in a circle. If you are making a longer veil, you can cut the bottom of the tulle into a rounded rectangle.

You can also add some trim to the rounded edge, such as a beaded trim or a narrow, white, satin ribbon.

Once you have cut the tulle to the desired length, you will need to sew across the top, straight edge. You can do this by hand using a running stitch or on a sewing machine using a straight stitch. If you are using a sewing machine, sew two rows, about 1/2 inch apart.

For a full veil, sew all the way across the top, straight edge. For a less-full veil, sew across the center part, leaving a gap on either side.

After you have sewn the top, you will need to gather the stitching. Gently tug on the end of the stitching until the tulle gathers. Keep tugging until the gathered area is the same width as your comb, about 2-4 inches. Tie the thread off into a secure knot, then cut off the excess.

Finally, sew the tulle to a hair comb. Match up the top edge of the veil with the top edge of the comb. Sew the veil to the comb, wrapping the thread around the comb and between the teeth. Tie the thread off in a tight knot, then snip off the excess.

Attach the comb

Now that you've gathered your veil, it's time to attach it to the comb. Place the comb, curved side up, on top of the gathered edge. The blusher should be the top layer. Use a threaded needle to attach the comb to your veil by stitching several times around each tooth.

If you want to add a decorative touch, you can wrap the comb with a piece of tulle or ribbon before sewing it to the veil. This will cover the stitches and give your veil a more polished look.

To attach the veil to the comb, start by threading your needle. Stitch through the gathered fabric and around the teeth of the comb, making sure to catch the wrapped tulle or ribbon as well. Stitch through each tooth several times to secure the veil. When you reach the end, tie a knot and cut off the excess thread.

If you prefer, you can also use fabric glue or hot glue to attach the veil to the comb. Apply a thin layer of glue to the teeth of the comb and press the gathered fabric onto it. Hold it in place for a few seconds until the glue sets.

Once the veil is attached to the comb, you can add any final embellishments, such as pearls, rhinestones, or flowers. Sew or glue them onto the comb, making sure they are secure.

And that's it! You've successfully made your own wedding veil without a sewing machine. Now you can wear it with pride on your special day, knowing that you created it yourself.

Add decorations

Now that you have the basic veil done, it's time to add some decorations! You can add lace, beading, or other trim to the edges of your veil. You can also add some sparkly beads or rhinestones to the veil itself. If you want to add some flowers, you can make some out of wire and nail polish. You can also add some ribbon to the comb to cover up the stitching.

Frequently asked questions