How to Make Feather Headpieces for Wedding

Use the details of the wedding dress as inspiration for the feathered headpiece.

Feather headpieces are an alternative to the traditional tiara and veil. Create your own headpiece to match the bride's dress and draw attention to her face. Smaller versions can be made for the maid of honor and bridesmaids to create unity in the wedding party. These headpieces can be designed with or without netting according to the bride's preference. There is no limit to the design or materials that can be used to create a one-of-a-kind, show-stopping headpiece.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• White satin fabric
• Hot glue
• White feathers
• Clear rubber band
• White satin 1/4-inch ribbon
• Rhinestones
• Pearls
• Netting
• Hair clip

Instructions

1. Lay a piece of cardboard on a flat surface. Draw a 4-inch-long teardrop shape and use a sharp pair of scissors to cut it out. This will serve as the base of your headpiece.

2. Cut a 6-inch-long, teardrop-shaped piece out of white satin. It should easily wrap around the cardboard base.

3. Lay the white satin teardrop right side down on a flat surface. Place the cardboard teardrop on top and adjust so it is in the center. Apply a line of hot glue around the the cardboard base, 1/2 inch from the edge. Fold the satin material up and over the cardboard and gently press down to secure in the glue.

4. Gather the white feathers and arrange in a fan-shaped pattern. Smaller feathers should be placed in front of longer feathers. You grouping can be as wide and as long as you would like, but remember that it has to fit onto the satin base. Wrap a clear rubber band around the bottom of the grouping to secure it.

5. Place the satin base right side up on the flat surface. Determine the angle at which you would like to attach your feather bunch. The feathers can be glued at a 45 degree angle to allow part of the satin to show. Apply hot glue to the pointed end of the base and press the rubber banded portion of the feathers into the glue. Hold in place until glue has dried.

6. Add two or three pieces, 3 inches in length, of white satin 1/4-inch ribbon to the headpiece. Place a drop of hot glue on one end of each ribbon piece and press on top of the rubber band. Glue the ribbons so that they extend different angles.

7. Add five or six rhinestones or pearls to the point of your headpiece. They will serve as a focal point and cover any unsightly glued ends or uncovered rubber band. If your feathers are at an angle, glue one or two jewels to the portion of the base that is visible.

8. Cut out a 9-inch-by-24-inch piece of netting. Determine how the headpiece is to sit on the head and decide whether you want the netting to come forward and cover the face or go backward over the hair. Gather the netting along one of the longer sides and glue the gathered portion to the underside of the headpiece at the correct angle for the desired effect.

9. Apply hot glue to the top side of the hair clip and glue to the underside of the headpiece. Let the completed headpiece sit for 15 to 20 minutes to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding netting to your headpiece is optional.

References

• Craft: How-To: Create Feather and Brocade Headpieces
• Simplicity Creative Group: How to Make a Fascinator Headpiece
• Craftstylish: How to Make a Fabulous Feather Fascinator