How to Create a Bridal Headpiece

The finishing touch for a bride is her headpiece and veil.

The bridal headpiece is the finishing touch for the bride. The headpiece can be as elaborate as the 2,000 Austrian crystals seven-pound tiara with cathedral veil worn by Celine Dion, or as simple as a wreath of flowers with a fingertip veil. A simple bridal headpiece with veil can be completed in a few hours with basic sewing skills.

Things You'll Need

• Needle and thread
• Tulle, 1 to 3 yards, at least 54 inches wide
• Tulle, 1 yard
• Scissors
• Satin ribbon, 2 inches wide 1/4 yard
• Hair comb

Instructions

1. Hem the tulle by rolling over the edges and using a whipstitch. Use tiny stitches. You could leave the ends un-hemmed for a bridal veil because it will only be worn once. The veil may be elbow length, in which case only 1 yard is required. Floor length with a short train requires 2 yards. Floor length veil with a train a bit longer than 3 feet requires 3 yards.

2. Turn one edge of the tulle over 1 inch on the 54 inch wide side. Press to crease. Gather the tulle by passing the needle in and out of the fabric at 1/2-inch intervals on the 54 inch wide side. The turned over edges should be away from you when sewing. Pull the thread tightly so the fabric comes together in a tight ruffle at the top of the veil. Make a knot in the thread at the end of the ruffle.

3. Fold the second shorter piece of tulle over and over to make a strip that is 4 inches wide and 36 inches long. Cut the 36 inches in half to make two 18-inch lengths. Attach the ends of the 18 inch lengths to each other with a 1-inch overlap to make a large loop. Sew the ends of the loop together. You should have two loops. Place one 18 inch length on top of the either. Sew them together in the middle with a basting stitch. Pull the thread so the middle of the loops squeeze together and forms a bow shape. Knot the thread at both ends.

4. Wrap the middle of the bow with a length of the satin ribbon. Secure on the back side of the bow with several stitches.

5. Sew the veil to the hair comb by wrapping the veil and the upper edge of the comb with the needle and thread. Knot the thread every inch to secure it to the comb. Sew the bow to the hair comb the same way. Secure the bow to the veil with a few stitches.

6. Use the comb to attach the headpiece and veil to the hair. Secure the bow with extra bobby pins.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on a clean surface. You don't want the long length of the tulle to get dirty.

References

• First Dance Impressions: Celine Dion
• Love Tripper: Celine Dion