Wisp Birdcage Veil Tutorial

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Your veiling or tulle will probably have folds from being stored and wrapped on a bolt. It’s much easier to remove the folds by ironing the material before you start making your birdcage veil.  If you have flocked veiling, iron around the chenille pieces.

Each style of birdcage veil uses a different length and width of veiling. While the Wisp uses 24″ of 9″ veiling, you might need to adjust the measurements slightly to suit your face and hairstyle perfectly.

Traditionally, the bottom of the veiling falls to one of three points on your face: below the eyes, the bottom of the nose, or just below the chin.  A birdcage veil that ends around the eyes is less dramatic than one that falls to the nose.  However, you’ll want to think about your evening. For example, a birdcage veil that ends below the chin can look fabulous but will prevent you from eating.

There are several ways to attach your birdcage to your hair. While the most popular way is to use a comb, you can also use a headband.  This can be a great option if you have very fine hair or are worried about the comb slipping out. Watch both videos and decide which option is best for you.

Combs are measured according to the number of teeth.  The image below shows a 6-tooth, 12-tooth, and 18-tooth comb. Look for a twisted wire metal comb as this will stay in your hair better than plastic or stamped-metal combs. You’ll need to prepare the comb by wrapping it in tulle so that the veiling can be sewn to the comb.

Metal headbands like the one in the video are 1/8″ or 3/8″ wide. A quick search shows that they are available for purchase on Amazon and Walmart. You can wrap the metal headband in tulle or with embroidery thread that matches your hair color.

You may want to add a touch of pizzazz to your birdcage veil by embellishing it. This video shows you how to add crystals to the veiling which will pick up the light in a delightful manner. If you are embellishing the veil then you’ll need to let the adhesive dry for at least 1 hour before proceeding to assemble your birdcage.

It’s time to put everything together.  You’ll need to gather the veiling and then attach it to the comb or headband.

To gather the veiling, you’ll use a whip stitch.  The stitch is similar to a running stitch but you are going around the edge of the fabric. If the edge of the veiling breaks then go through the row right below it. Use a long needle with a double thread and sew around the edge of the veiling.

In order to sew the gathered veiling to the comb you’ll need to wrap the metal comb with tulle. Wrap the tulle around the horizontal edge of the comb between each tooth. Start wrapping at one side and when you reach the other edge, secure the tulle with a few tiny stitches. Pin the gathered fabric on the left and right sides of the comb using straight pins. Then you’re ready to attach the veiling to the comb with small stitches.

If your vision is for something grand and distinctive, you may want to add pearls, crystals, or bridal jewelry to your piece. This step is done after you have attached the veiling to the comb or headband. The first video demonstrates how to add pearls, while the second video incorporates bridal jewelry into the piece.

While the video shows how to sew pearls and crystals directly on the comb of a traditional wedding veil, I’ve included the video as the process of decorating a birdcage veil is the same.  Add the pearls one at a time, and sew each one to the tulle-wrapped comb. Slowly build up each layer of pearls. You can use all the same size of pearls or you can select from a variety of sizes. I combined 4mm, 5mm, and 8mm pearls to create an elegant effect.  The image below provides close-ups of the process.

Adding bridal jewelry is a similar process to adding pearls.  It’s important to proceed with this step after you assemble the birdcage so that the piece lays flat against your hair.  Use pliers to cut off excess wire and bend the ends so the piece is comfortable.  The picture below provides some close-ups.