In keeping with the handmade theme of the wedding, I could have very easily purchased a beautiful fascinator from any number of talented artists on Etsy. But come on! You know me. I’m up for learning something new, getting my hands messy and an excuse to go to the craft store.
For this particular project, I took my inspiration from designer Kenley Collins who was on Project Runway last year. She always had something funky on her head and she’s got a grunge style with a vintage twist. It’s a little too 1950’s housewife for me, but I can work with it. If you scroll down her shop page, you can see the fascinator I based my design off of.
Gather your supplies:
* felt
* thread (I used some left over embroidery floss I had laying around)
* metal hair clips
* assortment of feathers (I used a package of brown feathers and a single peacock feather bought at Michael’s)
* any sort of additional adornment you wish to use on the fascinator
Step 1:
Take the felt and cut it to the size and shape you desire. I made mine a tear drop shape about the size of my palm. Then lay the feathers out on the felt in a desirable pattern. The picture below shows what the final product will look like. These feathers have not been sewed to the felt yet.
Step 2:
Sew the hair clip to the back of the felt. This picture also shows the shape I cut the felt to.
Step 3:
Starting with the back layer of feathers, start sewing them into place. I’m sure you could do this with a glue gun, I just don’t like all the little stringy things that get left behind.
Step 4:
Once the very back layer of feathers has been tacked down somehow, start placing and sewing the next layer of feathers. Continue doing this until the entire piece of felt is covered in feathers to your liking.
This is what the front side looks like once all the feathers have been sewn on:
Here’s what the back side looks like. If you’ll notice, there is a long feather hanging off the bottom of the felt. You may have to trim your feathers to fit the felt.
Step 5:
Try on the fascinator and take an awkward picture of yourself in the mirror
Step 6:
For the final touch I sewed a single peacock feather down the middle:
When we were in San Antonio, the Aunts found a vintage rhinestone button in the sewing cabinet. I sewed the button to the fascinator this past weekend for a little extra bling, and to have a piece of Mam with me. There is a stone missing from the button, which is probably why it was in the cabinet to begin with, but I have no desire to replace it. I like it just the way it is.
You’ll have to wait until after the wedding to see the final result. I’m mean, I know.
I took some left over feathers and embroidery floss and made a toy for the kitty. The cheapest, homemade toys are always the most entertaining.
Popularity: 3% [?]