A fun workshop when you need a simple but effective Headpiece.
There are times when you need headgear for a large number of Dance students in a hurry. Whether the snow delayed a shipment or they were forgotten with the rush of last minute rehearsals, it helps to have a backup.
A couple of metres of pretty lace, some glue and beads or rhinestones and some millinery wire are mostly what you need.
I used a Tiara band for the base around the head but heavy wire is fine.
I covered the base with some metallic ribbon and a dot of adhesive.
Decide on the shape crown you want and even sketch it out on some paper as a guide.
Use some millinery wire and bend into your chosen shape. I did a couple of even zig zags and one taller one in the front of the crown.
Then hook around your base and either attach with some upholstery thread or beading wire.
You are just looking to join the wire where it meets the band.
Next stiffen your lace. You can either dip it in starch or Glue.
I used a PVA watered down 1 – 5 ( 1 Tablespoon glue to 5 Tablespoons of water. Soak for 10 minutes and gently squeeze the excess out.
My camera batteries ran out at this stage and so- no photo of lace in glue.
Decide on shape of crown and lay your lace over the shape–ie pudding bowl or mannequins head.
Put a layer of plastic over the shape first and position the lace.
Leave overnight in a warm area to stiffen.
Trim to the shape – I trimmed the bottom off my lace as I felt it sat too high – and attach to your base with heavy duty cotton -I used no.36 American upholstery thread.
Once attached I added crystals and beads.
I used fine wire with crystals threaded on to attach a ‘V’ shape in the front of the crown. A piece of trim sewn to the front and its done.
You can add glitter or Trim and embellish as much or as little as you want.
Quite effective for a quick headpiece.
Now you can use any shape or fabric and play with ideas for your next one.
Hope you enjoyed that workshop.
I use 100% Cotton Coutil on my professionally made Tutus. This is the most durable and kindest to the skin. The cotton absorbs perspiration and helps protect the outer, more delicate top layer of the Tutu fabric.
The dense herringbone weave prevents the boning from coming through the fabric and so is more comfortable to the dancer.
The denser Coutil is used more for Corsets but the softer Coutil which has less starch in it is my preference.
A standard 10 piece Adult bodice needs about half a metre.
A strong Cotton Drill is also suitable for Tutus which don’t need to last 20 years and is under less stress. Younger students Tutus can be made successfully with the lighter linings as these are not constrained to the same rigours as the Professional Dancer.
The Coutil and drill can be dyed a flesh colour when the top fabric is thinner or more see through as this is less visible through the fabric.
ALWAYS prewash and Iron your Lining fabrics, especially cottons, as they do shrink. Stretch Linings i.e. Power net can be washed on a cool setting or rinsed by hand. These do not need pressing.
Dyeing the Net for Tutus gives you so many choices of colours which you wouldn’t normally find.
In fact some of the very Stiff Net you use for Tutus has a limited range of colours available. The process of hand dyeing is quite a complex one and you will find slight variations in colour batches even if you have used the same formula.
This doesn’t detract from the garment and some customers like the variations in the colour as it gives more ‘Life’ to a Tutu.
However I do find when you dye smaller pieces you tend to have more control over the outcome, although sometimes it can be a surprise too.
The Net is charged at the current rate as seen in the shop section. The price of dyeing varies as to the needs and quantities required.
To cut a 10 layer Classical Tutu £10.00
To dagge the edges-Scallop or ‘v’ shape £25.00
To dye a 10 layer Classical Tutu with powernet piece for panty £25.00
For more information please refer to the SERVICES -DYEING section on the Menu.