Making Veil!?

I went to patchogue bridal today and the woman wasnt helping me at all and the veils lookd simple enough so i ventured off around the store and found that tulle was only 1.50 per yard and so i spent about 20 bucks total and bought some along with some satin ribbon to be used for edging and some fishing wire to put beads on the veil dont know if i am crazy but i figure 20 bucks was worth trying anyone else making their own and have any tips for me? i am scared!

look at YOU!!!! listen- mine cost $500 and quite frankly, it's a piece of ivory tulle with no edging that looks like it came off a roll. The only reason I did it is that my sister is getting married in January and we are splitting the cost....something old, new, AND borrowed!

Good for you!

This is a quote from theknot.com with all the instructions. Note: I haven't tried it myself yet and not sure that I will, but FIY:


Topic: For my NY girls... how to make your own VEIL for under $20 with no pattern.
From: AliceBella Date: 8/15/2002 at 1:41 pm

Ladies, I just did this, and I can tell you, if you can sew a button, you can make this veil.

I made it myself after visiting a very expensive bridal salon in Manhattan, where the most unbelievably simple veils cost $180, and a cathedral length veil with one layer and a plastic comb and plastic beads cost $650!! I just said 'this is absurd! I can do this myself!' And lo and behold... for under $20 in supplies and 45 minutes of my time, I did. Here are my easy, NO PATTERN instructions for a fingertip-length veil with blusher.

You will need:

5 yards of 108' wide fine tulle (this allows extra!)
1 spool or matching thread
1 plastic or metal hair comb
1 needle
Very sharp scissors
A large, clean floor area for cutting
An iron
A paper towel or clean dishcloth
A sewing machine (OPTIONAL)
Straight pins (OPTIONAL)

1. Vacuum or 'Swiff' your cutting area. It's much easier if you do your cutting on a non-white surface, like a wooden floor or a colorful rug. The bigger the area is, the better. Shut dogs and cats in another room, since they think tulle is the best toy ever.

2. Lay out as much of your tulle as possible, perfectly flat. Measure out a length approximately 72' long, and cut. Note that the resulting piece will be wider than it is long, since the width is 108'. The cut (or long) sides are the 'north' and 'south' ones. The selvages (or non-cut, short) sides are 'east' and 'west'. Fold and store the remaining tulle.

3. Fold the EAST and WEST sides of the tulle together and align as best you can (since you'll be cutting a circle, it doesn't matter if the edges are perfectly matched). Then fold again, bringing the NORTH and SOUTH sides together, forming a smaller square. With each fold, make sure the tulle is perfectly flat on the floor, and if you're on carpet, make sure not to stretch the tulle.

4. Lay the folded square with the folded point in the middle of your floor (the folded point will be the center of your circle). Using very sharp scissors with no nicks on the blades, carefully cut a quarter circle, starting at the bottom and arching your way to the top. (Here's a helpful hint: take a paper plate and fold into quarters... the resulting shape is the same shape you'll be cutting into your tulle). Be sure to start and end the quarter circle as close to the cut edges as you can without distorting the shape of the circle. Also, make sure you're cutting through all four layers of tulle. Finally, be extra careful about each stroke of the scissors... go slowly and take care not to tear or create ragged edges. Although it's not difficult to go back to correct uneven cutting, once you've torn the tulle you'll have to start over. Once done, set the excess aside.

5. Lay out your circle flat on the floor and inspect for smooth edges. Measure out 26' from the bottom of the circle, and fold the circle exactly at that point. Smooth folded circle flat.

6. Set iron on the COOLEST POSSIBLE setting. Lay a paper towel or dishtowel across the fold and gently press the fold, keeping the iron gently moving. If the fold doesn't take, raise the temperature SLIGHTLY. Tulle can melt very easily, so be extra careful. If you're ironing on a bare wood floor, you may want to lay a sheet or towel under the fold first. When you unfold the circle, you should see a straight, distinct crease at the 26' mark.

6. Double thread your needle and tie a fair-sized knot. Only allow about 1' of thread... you don't need more, and in any event, it would tangle easily during this next step. Starting at the edge of the fabric right on the fold line, make a loop about 1 cm in from the edge, and sew through the loop to secure the thread at the edge.

7. Continue sewing across the seam... this step is to gather the fabric. Push the needle in and out of the fabric every centimeter, and pause frequently to push the gathers back towards the knot in the thread. When you reach the other edge of the circle, adjust the gathered part so it's as long as your comb is. Form another loop and knot well... don't worry if the knot is obvious because the seam will eventually be hidden.

7. Lay the gathered veil out as flat as you can. The gathered part should be as wide as your comb. The short side is the blusher. Fold the blusher onto the rest of the veil at the gathered seam, so the veil is all on one side of the seam.

8. [For this next step, you can use a sewing machine for extra strength, but hand sewing is just fine. Straight pins are helpful at this step too, but not mandatory.] Sew a second seam alongside the first one, about 1/2 centimeter in. Make sure the gathering thread is at the edge and straight, and use it as a guide. This new seam should be the same length as the other, and will anchor the gathers in place. Use very small, straight stitches and gently tie strong knots at either end. Clip off any long thread ends at this point.

9. Now we attach the comb! Before you start, look at the comb: Most combs have an arc to them. The bottom side of the arc is the side that lays against your head. This is the side of the arc to which you attach the veil. Lay the veil out so the blusher (the short end) is lying on top of the longer end. Lay the comb upside down (so the side that will lie against your head faces up), and slide it UNDER the gathered edge. There should be about 3/4 cm overlap. Using needle and thread, securely sew the veil to the comb, looping around the end AND around the tines of the comb. Again, don't worry if it looks a little haphazard... it's not going to show. If the gathered fabric seam is a little longer than the comb, now is when you can compensate by bunching it up a little, making the ends even with the edges of the comb. Tie off with secure knots and clip loose ends.

That's it! Now when you insert the comb in your hair, the sewn and gathered edge of the fabric should be concealed against the top of your head, while the veil poufs out above it. You can continue by attaching a rhinestone decoration (a barrette without a backing, for example) to the top of the veil, although if you plan to wear the blusher down over your face, it won't work.

I'm 5' 8' and this veil goes down to my butt. If you're shorter or want to adjust the length,lay the veil out as flat as you can and cut as evenly as possible around the bottom. It's easy to eyeball.

Hope this is helpful! The whole project came in at around $10, including extra tulle in case I made a mistake and had to start over. Woo hoo!

Thank you so much. I was thinking of making my own, and I am going to try this weekend. I figure I can mess it up once if it only cost a couple of bucks.

Anyone else who made their veil, can you please add whatever intput you have. I have a couple of idea's, which I will post if they work.

PS - I am also making the ringbearer cushion. I saw one on the Knot that I really liked, its v. simple, and I'm going to give it a shot

Helen

I have made 2 veils for bachelorette parties. The hardest thing is cutting the tulle straight.

I am a stickler for detail so there was no way that I could deal with an imperfect edge for my wedding dress but I did save a LOT of money by ordering from Glamgal instead of a bridal shop. The bridal shop wanted hundreds of dollars for what GlamGal made me for $80.

God bless you for taking it on. My veil was $575.00
My dad almost fell off my chair. My mom told him I had to have it and that was the end of it!

I am not crafty (although on a trip to Michaels the other night you would have thought Matt and I were both Martha Stewart!) so I have no tips for you.

Good luck.

I'm bumping this to see if anyone can add any more tips for making a veil

I've been contemplating this as well but haven't gone shopping for material yet. I fould the following instructions which are easier the the one from the Knot above:

http://www.wegotgame.net/jen/veils.html

Good luck and tell us how it worked out.

My MOH made my comb & my veil.. and I have a few words of wisdom.

1) All Tulles are Not created equal. She bought the tulle in the garment district and it was still pretty stiff and it didn't lay right.
2) Not all whites & ivories match... the tulle (even though off-white) made my dress look dirty as it was too white. Make sure you have a swatch of your dress when you are purchasing the tool.
3) finishing the edges is tricky- cutting it straight is a pain.. so make sure you get really good scissors.

i wound up having to take all the tulle off the comb (it was attached by eye hooks decorated w/ fresh water pearls) and having to pay $200.00 to get matching tulle.....

Oh oh, sassyz, sorry to hear that!!!

I bought tulle yesterday, I think it matched, but need to check. I agree with you about the roughness of tulle... A few different stores I went to had all different kinds of tulle. For those planning to go to C & H, I have found their's to be a little on the tougher, not so soft side... Sorry.