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

Making your own wedding veil is a great way to save money and create a unique, personalised accessory for your big day. The process is simple and can be completed in an afternoon. Here's a step-by-step guide to making a wedding veil:

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 and length you prefer, and measure the required fabric length.

2. Gather your materials

You will need tulle (or another lightweight fabric such as organza or fine cotton/linen) , a hair comb, ribbon (optional), a rolled hem foot, fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat, a long ruler or metre stick, a fabric marker, and a thimble (optional).

3. Cut the fabric

Cut the fabric to the desired length, allowing for seam allowance and gathers. If you want a two-tiered veil, cut the fabric in half widthwise. Round off the corners of the fabric to create a soft curve.

4. Hem the edges

Use a rolled hem or a trimmed hem to finish the edges of the veil. For a trimmed hem, pin and sew a piece of trim (such as satin ribbon) around the edge of the veil.

5. Prepare the comb

Wrap the comb with tulle or ribbon to create a platform for stitching the veil.

6. Gather the veil

If you are making a two-tiered veil, fold the fabric in half widthwise and mark where you will gather the fabric. Baste along the gather line using a running stitch.

7. Pin the veil to the comb

Pull the basting threads to gather the fabric to the size of the comb and pin it in place.

8. Stitch the veil to the comb

Using a needle and thread, stitch the veil securely to the wrapped fabric on the comb.

9. Cover the gathered edge (optional)

Cut a length of ribbon to the size of the comb and stitch it in place along the top and bottom, wrapping the ends around the back of the comb.

10. Add decorative elements (optional)

You can further decorate your veil by sewing or gluing on beads, gemstones, lace, or other embellishments.

And that's it! You now have a beautiful, handmade wedding veil.

Choosing the right fabric

The first step in making a wedding veil is to decide on the style and length of the veil. The length of the veil can vary from shoulder-length to a long train, and the style can be a single-tier, double-tier, full, or drop veil. Once the style and length are decided, the next step is to choose the fabric. The most common fabric for veils is tulle, but organza or a very fine cotton or linen fabric can also be used. The width of the fabric will depend on the desired fullness of the veil. For a fuller veil, a wider fabric should be used, such as 108" wide tulle. The length of the fabric will depend on the desired length of the veil, with longer veils requiring more fabric. In addition to the fabric, other supplies needed include a hair comb, ribbon, rolled hem foot, fabric scissors, a long ruler or meter stick, and a fabric marker. When choosing the fabric, it is important to consider the colour and texture of the fabric to ensure it complements the wedding dress. It is also important to choose a fabric that is easy to work with and will not fray easily. Once the fabric and supplies have been gathered, the next step is to cut the fabric to the desired length and shape. The fabric can be cut into a circle, oval, or rounded rectangle, depending on the desired look of the veil. After the fabric has been cut, the edges can be finished with a rolled or trimmed hem. A rolled hem can be created using a sewing machine with a rolled hem foot, while a trimmed hem can be created by pinning and sewing trim to the edge of the veil. Once the hem is finished, the veil can be gathered and attached to the hair comb. The amount of fabric gathered will depend on the desired fullness of the veil. The veil can be gathered by hand or with a sewing machine, and it can be attached to the comb by sewing or gluing it in place. Finally, any desired decorations, such as lace, beads, or rhinestones, can be added to the veil.

Cutting the veil

Step 1: Measure and Prepare the Fabric

Before cutting the fabric, it is important to determine the desired length of the veil. The length can vary depending on the style and preference of the bride. Common styles include blusher, elbow-length, waist-length, fingertip, and cathedral veils, each with specific standard lengths. Measure the desired length by placing one end of a measuring tape where the veil will be attached and extending it down to the desired point.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric to Size

Once the measurements are finalised, it's time to cut the fabric. For a single-tier veil, simply cut the fabric to the required length. For a double-tier or multi-layered veil, additional measurements are needed, and the fabric should be cut accordingly. It is recommended to use fabric scissors or a rotary cutter for a clean cut, especially when working with delicate fabrics like tulle.

Step 3: Rounding the Corners (Optional)

For a more elegant and rounded look, the corners of the veil can be rounded off. This step is optional and depends on the desired style. To round the corners, fold the fabric in half lengthwise and widthwise, creating four layers. Then, carefully cut the corners in a smooth, curved motion to achieve the desired shape.

Step 4: Folding the Fabric (For Multi-Tier Veils)

If creating a multi-tier veil, such as a two-tier or full veil, additional folding is required. For a two-tier veil, fold the fabric in half widthwise, creating two layers of fabric. For a full veil, the fabric is folded into quarters, resulting in four layers. This step ensures that the veil has a blusher, which is the shorter layer that can be worn over the face during the ceremony.

Step 5: Finalise the Length and Shape

After folding the fabric, adjust the length of the blusher or shorter layer to match the desired measurement. This can be done by folding the top edge of the veil down and trimming any excess fabric. At this point, the overall shape of the veil can be visualised, and any further adjustments can be made before proceeding to the stitching stage.

Tips for Cutting the Veil:

• It is important to work on a clean, flat surface to ensure accurate measurements and cuts.
• When cutting tulle, use a rotary cutter instead of hand scissors to achieve a smooth and precise cut.
• Take into account any additional length that may be needed for gathering or seam allowances when finalising the measurements.
• If desired, round off the corners of the veil for a softer, curved look.
• For multi-tier veils, carefully fold and adjust the fabric to create the desired layers and lengths.

Sewing the veil

Cutting the veil

First, you need to cut the veil to the desired length. If you want a two-tiered veil, you will need to cut the fabric to the length of the longer veil and the shorter veil (blusher). For a single-tier veil, cut the fabric to the desired length. If you want a rounded veil, round off the corners of the fabric.

Gathering the veil

Next, you will need to gather the fabric to create a nice drape. To do this, sew two rows of stitches across the top of the veil, leaving long tails of thread at the beginning and end. Then, pull on the bobbin threads to gather the fabric until it is the desired width. Knot the threads to secure the gathers.

Attaching the comb

Place the comb, curved side up, on top of the gathered edge of the veil. Stitch the veil to the comb by sewing through the teeth of the comb.

Adding a second tier

If you are making a two-tier veil, repeat the gathering and attaching process for the second tier. The only difference is the length of the fabric.

Finishing touches

You can add a variety of finishings to your veil, such as satin ribbon, lace, pearls, beads, or other decorative elements. Simply sew these elements onto the veil by hand or with a sewing machine.

Adding decorations

• Lace - You can sew or glue lace to the edges of your veil. This can be a simple trim or a more detailed pattern. You can also use lace from a family member's wedding dress to add a special touch.
• Beads - Sew or glue small beads, pearls, or gemstones to your veil. You can scatter them randomly or create a pattern.
• Ribbon - Sew a thin satin ribbon along the edges of your veil. You can also use wider ribbon to create a border around the entire veil.
• Flowers - You can attach artificial flowers to your veil using glue or by sewing them on.
• Rhinestones - Rhinestones can be glued or sewn onto your veil to add some sparkle.
• Monogram - You can add a monogram to your veil by sewing on beads or pearls in the shape of your initials.
• Colour - Instead of a traditional white or ivory veil, you can choose a coloured veil to match your wedding colour scheme.
• Fabric - Experiment with different types of fabric for your veil, such as silk organza or chiffon. You can also layer different types of fabric to create a unique look.
• Bows - Add a bow to your veil for a cute and whimsical touch.
• Embroidery - Embroider a design or your initials onto your veil for a unique and personalised touch.

Attaching the comb

Step 1: Prepare the comb

Use scraps of tulle to wrap the comb. You could also use ribbon or even garment tape. The goal here is to make a platform to stitch the veil to later. You'll need a strip 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 three to four times.

Wrap your way across the comb, working two to three 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 three to four 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.

Step 2: Stitch the strip in place

Stitch the end of the strip into place by hand. If needed, now is a good time to stitch the ends to themselves as well to prevent any slipping.

Step 3: 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, as 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.

If you don't want a blusher but only want one layer of fabric, skip the folding.

Mark with pins where you will gather the fabric. This determines the shape of the veil. For a cascading veil, gather the centre third 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 0.25 inches apart and about 0.25 inches from the fold. This will give you the most control when gathering the fabric.

Step 4: Pin the veil to the comb

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.

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 them to the veil.

For non-gathered veils, lay out your veil fabric and decide where you want the comb to be. Then, pin it to the comb.

Step 5: 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 6: Cover the gathered edge (optional)

This step is completely optional, but it 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.

Frequently asked questions