How to make a fascinator

Show off your craft skills on your big day with Ann-Marie Faulkner's DIY fascinator!

Try 6 issues of your choice of craft magazine from just £9.99

Phoebe Burt

Published: June 5, 2022 at 8:18 am

Move over tiaras and flower crowns – this lace fascinator, by Most Curious Wedding Fair's star milliner Ann-Marie Faulkner, is our choice for statement spring headwear. Fashion’s palest shade is enjoying a moment right now. We're spotting it everywhere, from manicures to handbags and, of course, in its natural environment – weddings. This fascinator, made by milliner Ann-Marie Faulkner in conjunction with Most Curious Wedding Fair, is ideal for styling romantic, vintage-inspired weddings. If you enjoy making this DIY fascinator then make sure you also check out our DIY wedding seating plan, Homemade wedding cards and DIY wedding favour ideas.

If you’ve no plans to get hitched, you could still carry this one off at your next super-swank do – just pick some different coloured lace, or dye it yourself and embellish how you want. Now it's over to Ann-Marie for her DIY fascinator...

You will need

You will need

Lace
Matching thread
Small bugle beads
Long bugle beads
Seed beads (use your spare seed beads to make our seed bead bracelet, seed bead necklace and seed bead earrings)
Water-based fabric stiffener
Paintbrush
Fabric alice band (you could also make your own using our how to make head bands)
Small embroidery scissors

How to make a fascinator

You will need:

Lace
Matching thread
Bugle beads
seed beads
Water-based fabric stiffener
Paintbrush
Fabric alice band
Small embroidery scissors

Step 1

DIY fascinator step 1
Pick out your lace. We used guipure lace because of its bold pattern, but you could also use corded lace – just make sure it’s heavy enough to cut out and hold its shape.

Step 2

DIY fascinator step 2
Cut out your chosen part or parts of the lace pattern using small embroidery scissors. You can choose the size and shape you wish.

Step 3

DIY fascinator step 3

Mix up your fabric stiffener according to the pack instructions.

Step 4

DIY fascinator step 4
Lay your cut-out lace on a piece of plastic or paper and, using your paintbrush, generously apply the stiffener to the lace.

Step 5

DIY fascinator step 5

Leave the stiffener to dry as per the pack instructions.

Step 6

DIY fascinator step 6
Once dry, give the lace a quick iron on the reverse to further stiffen the fabric

Step 7

DIY fascinator step 7
Arrange the lace on the alice band. Hold in place using pins and remember to check how it looks on yourself in the mirror. Keep adjusting the lace pieces until you’re happy with the arrangement, then pin.

Step 8

DIY fascinator step 8
Once you’re happy, sew into place using matching thread, making sure to keep your stitches really small and almost invisible.

Step 9

DIY fascinator step 9
Now let’s add some beading. Scatter a few small bugle beads over some of the lace, highlighting elements as you wish, and stitch into place.

Step 10

DIY fascinator step 10
As our motif is floral, we decided to add some beaded stamens – to do this, secure your thread in the centre of a flower then sew through the middle of a long bugle bead.

Step 11

DIY fascinator step 11
Take a seed bead and sew through the centre. Now go back down through the centre of the long bugle bead and back through your fabric. Make sure your thread is pulled all the way through securely. The seed bead will hold your thread in place as well as holding your bugle bead up vertically.

Step 12

Repeat all over your lace, or in selected areas, until you have a finish you’re happy with.

Step 13

Carefully check your piece over for any loose threads or untidy pieces of lace and trim anything that needs neatening up. Wrap your beautifully crafted headpiece in tissue paper to protect it until you need it.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to make a fascinator! For more wedding crafts head over to our DIY wedding craft ideas, wedding cross stitch kits and our DIY wedding table decorations.

SEO and Communities Editor, Gathered

Phoebe has worked for Gathered, and our sister magazine Mollie Makes, for 3 years. She manages our Arts & Crafts section and specialises in social media and content strategy. She has a background in all things marketing, a flair for Pinterest and a knack for finding the next big craft trend. Previously she worked as Digital Campaign Executive for Fat Media. You may recognise her name from Mollie Makes Social Media magazine, where she shared her expertise and top tips on becoming social media savvy. She has two passions in life - craft (specifically embroidery) and music. She's written for online music publications including Bristol in Stereo, Culture or Trash and Festival Mag so if you're looking for a new band recommendation she's the one to ask.