How to Make Barrettes With Feathers & Tulle

Striking barrette fascinators can really make your outfit pop.

Make your own feathers and tulle barrette fascinator. Fascinators are back in fashion and you can create your own. Large fascinator hats may not be suitable for every occasion, but if you want the flair without the fuss, these barrette fascinator slides are perfect. You can make one that perfectly suits your outfit in a couple of minutes. Recycle old hats and skirts for fabric and feathers, or visit a craft store near you. You can make the whole barrette for less than $10. These also make the perfect gift for fascinator-lovers of all ages.

Things You'll Need

• Tulle
• Feathers
• Embellishments like buttons, sequence, silk or plastic flowers, beads or findings
• Barrette comb
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Lay the barrette on the working surface, right side up. On your table arrange the various items you have selected into a bouquet that will fit on your barrette. Make a little barrette bouquet so that you know the placement of all the items before you begin.

2. Start with the large, central item. This is going to be a large bead, findings (metal items used in jewelry making), gem, button or fabric flower. Around this, arrange the feathers and other embellishments.

3. Cut out a ring of tulle that is no bigger than the barrette itself. Having too large a fascinator will mean that the barrette is not able to support its weight. This rule does not apply to feathers which are lightweight enough to extend way beyond the fascinator.

4. Apply dabs of glue with the hot glue gun along the top plastic piece of the barrette comb. Press the middle of the tulle to the glue and leave to cure.

5. Glue your feathers, beads, buttons and findings to the piece of tulle, starting with the items on the bottom of your barrette bouquet. Wipe off excess glue with the tissue to ensure that the glue does not show through. Leave the barrette to dry completely before use.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut a long strip of tulle and gather the tulle into a ruffled circle, using a gathering stitch. Glue it to the barrette and then continue with fascinator construction.

• You can glue the beads onto the tulle at regular intervals for a patterned look.

• Thread beads onto florist's wire. Glue the top one in place and then glue the bottom of the wire to the barrette.

• Add long dangling strings of pearls or ribbons for a more interesting look.

Resources

• Craft Stylish; How to Make a Floral Fascinator; June 2009