DIY Birdcage Veil Tutorial

Hello lovely readers!  Today I'm going to kick off Wedding Wednesday DIY with a tutorial on how to make a birdcage veil.  I have always been in love with birdcage veils, but I never realized there were so many different types.  When I initially went dress shopping, the only birdcage veil they had in the store was the bandeau type that just goes straight across your face...and I didn't like it.

Because I was unaware that different types existed, I ended up buying a long veil - and the more I looked at it, the more I couldn't stand it.  I starting to see all sorts of beautiful birdcage veils on Etsy and at other bridal salons, and I just knew I had to have one.  Since I had already dropped waaay too much money on a veil I didn't like,  I didn't want to go drop $200 on another veil, so I decided to try my hand at making one.  Follow along for the tutorial.

   *Disclaimer: I did NOT make the flower - that is a clip I added on top of the veil*

Supplies:

French or Russian Netting
Scissors
Thread
Hair comb
Needle
Optional: Flower or lace 

Tutorial:

1. To begin, you first need to purchase the material you will make your birdcage veil out of. I used French netting because it isn’t as stiff as Russian netting, and I didn’t want to have a really poufy veil. The French netting is much softer. When I bought it, I bought 1 yard of 19” French netting, and just cut it down. The dimensions you trim the width to are completely dependent upon how large of a veil you want. The wider it is, the bigger the veil/the more of your face it will cover. You’ll have to play around with it by wrapping it around your head/face to determine how large you want it.

2. Once you’ve cut the width how you like it, you need to cut the length. I cut mine across at 12”, but again, this dimension should be adjusted according to the size you want your veil to be.

3. After cutting the fabric, you will make two diagonal cuts. I started my cuts about 8” up on each side, but these cuts don’t have to be exact. Make sure you make the diagonal cuts on the cut edges, leaving the finished edge untouched on the bottom. 

4. When your fabric looks like this, the sewing begins. Starting at one corner, secure your thread to the netting by tying a small knot. Then weave your needle and thread in and out through the tiny squares, moving your way around the edge. You will weave the fabric along the blue lines in my picture.

5. After you have weaved all the way around, the ends will bunch together like this. Secure the ends together by tying off the thread.

6. Sew the bunched end onto the comb. Some people will wrap tulle around the end of the comb before attaching the veil – that is completely up to you. I didn’t. Sorry the picture is a little dark - the comb is there but you really have to look.

7. At this point, you can either cut off any extra thread and be done, or you can sew a flower or some lace on top of your comb to disguise it. I made a couple different veils. In one, I added lace on top. However, for the one I wore on my wedding day, I didn’t add anything on it because I found a different flower comb I wanted to wear. Instead, I just placed the big flower comb over the veil’s comb. 

To add a little sparkle to your veil, you can sew some little crystals or beads at random places.  Overall, making the veil is really easy, but I would buy extra materials.  I had to make several before I got it just how I wanted it - but then again, I'm pickier than most :)  Birdcage veils can be really fussy, so I highly recommend steaming it before you wear it.  Even after steaming it, you may need to bobby pin it in to place (which I would strongly recommend doing anyways, just so it doesn't move).

As always, let me know if you have any questions.  Happy crafting!