How to Sew a Mantilla
A mantilla is a sheer veil positioned on top of a decorative comb or similar headpiece and worn to cover a woman's head and shoulders. They originated in Latin cultures and are worn during church services and formal ceremonies like weddings. Mantillas are usually cut in a wide circle or oval from a high quality tulle or lightweight lace. They have lace or scalloped edges, designed to frame the face and shoulders. Making your own mantilla requires only basic sewing skills; it can be a beautiful edition of a formal ensemble.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Tulle or lace fabric
- Pins
- Fabric pencil
- Scissors
- Lace trim
- Sewing needle
- Clear thread
Instructions
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Measure from the crown of your head down your back to the point you want the mantilla to stop using a measuring tape. Mantillas can end at the shoulders, be cathedral length to match the train on a wedding dress or stop at almost any length in between. Typically, the more formal the occasion the longer the mantilla should be.
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Select a fabric. Lightweight tulle or a very finely woven lace are traditional materials from which to make the mantilla; they are light enough to shape to the face well. Heavy lace is sometimes used on mantillas for funerals or to be worn by older women. It lays in folds rather than framing the face and shoulders.
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Fold the material in quarters to form a square that is four layers of fabric thick. Pin the material so that it cannot slide around while you are working with it. This ensures that the oval you cut is symmetrical and makes the fabric more compact and easier to work with than a single-layer sheet.
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Mark one-quarter of a circle on the fabric with a fabric pen. The height of the one-quarter circle, along the center fold, should be the same as one-quarter of the length of the measurement taken from the crown of your head to the bottom of the mantilla's length. The width of the circle is at your discretion. The wider the circle, the more full the final mantilla.
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Cut along the line with a sharp pair of scissors to make a smooth line and avoid snagging the material.
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Pin scalloped lace around the oval veil's perimeter. Use a lace that is also in your gown.
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Stitch the lace to the mantilla by hand using clear thread and a sewing needle. Thread the needle with the clear thread leaving about a 2-inch tail and tie the ends of the thread into a knot. Use a straight-stitch, sewing around the mantilla with short even stitches. Keep your stitches small to make them less noticeable.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
