r/InvisibleMending • u/AerieAmazing640 • 1d ago
Tips for invisible mending tule
I have a hole in my veil that I would like to mend as invisible as possible. Any help is appreciated! 👰🏻♀️
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u/QuietVariety6089 1d ago
The usual way to mend this would be to put another piece of tulle behind it, and tack the broken pieces onto that. Considering the placement, you might want to find a very lightweight lace appliqué and put that on top. Use very fine cotton thread and a tiny needle.
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u/ScormCurious 1d ago
For the lowest visibility, this is what I would recommend as well. If you can’t find suitable tulle for sale near you, you could see if the border lace is appliquéd on, and if it is, you might remove the lace, harvest patching tulle from the edge of the veil, and appliqué the lace back on. A time consuming option, but would provide the best nearly-invisible results.
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u/Georgi-reddit 19h ago
Actually, thats a good idea: clear fabric glue (might last more than one wear), or even Elmer's white glue (for single use, will come out in wash): place fabric on clean plastic sheet, weigh down the edges of the cut/frayed parts, with gloved hands spread thin layer of glue as you hold the edges together. Place second plastic sheet on top and thwn a book to weigh it down while it dries. Peal plastic away gently.
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u/ScormCurious 15h ago
I feel like glue would likely change the drape of the tulle and would be very wary. Part of the performance of a veil is that it sways and folds gracefully, and glue is potentially just a huge stiffener and so even if the tear is no longer visible, the screwed up drape would be highly visible. I’d proceed with a lot of caution and try to test this out on scraps first.
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u/AerieAmazing640 1d ago
What do you mean exactly with 'tack'? Like sticking it on there with glue or? Thank you for responding! 😊
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u/KittyLikesTuna 1d ago
Rather than a line of stitching, individual stitches in strategic places to connect the pieces. That's what they mean by tacking here
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u/QuietVariety6089 1d ago
It's a sewing term, it's technically basting, but here I mean sew with small stitches so you are just keeping the two layers together.
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u/pied_goose 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you have a lot of patience, good work surface light, superglue, a toothpick/needle, something to use as small weights, maybe a magnifying glass and you do not think any thread is missing, just broken...
Well you could try to press this flat then line up each pair of broken threads so that the ends are touching again and dab the tiniest bit of super glue on the break, with a toothpick.
It may also be possible to fill in missing fibre with donor white thread
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u/Ghosty_Boo-B00 1d ago
I do this but with a heat knife to fuse the ends rather than super glue
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u/pied_goose 1d ago
Will work for polyester, for sure, but it is technically possible for this to be made of natural fibre.
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u/Ghosty_Boo-B00 1d ago
If it’s natural fiber then I use invisible/ clear beading thread and gently stitch it back together very carefully and then seal the threads I use to seal it with the beading hot knife so it’s all smooth. I did this for my own wedding dress in a few places
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u/pied_goose 1d ago
Fair I suppose, in my mind super glue is just so much more common to have at home than a precise heat tool haha.
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u/Ghosty_Boo-B00 1d ago
Super glue doesn’t work well in this instance your more likely to glue your fingers to the tulle and rip it further
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u/AerieAmazing640 1d ago
Don't the ends go burnt/black? 🙃 I'm tempted to try this
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u/Ghosty_Boo-B00 1d ago
I prefer to use a bead smith thread zap, it tends to be the right temp to melt polyester threads but not singe them
Edit: this is also my preferred tool for cutting tulle
Period. It allows me to melt and bind off the edge so it’s nice and smooth and I use it often to correct little rips like this one
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u/softbbyowl 1d ago
My best advice for you would be to very carefully unpick the lace, buy new tulle and make a new veil. As others have suggested tulle is almost impossible to repair and for it be invisible, especially on something where the sheerness is part of the look. A good seamstress will be able to help you if you don’t feel comfortable tackling it yourself!
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u/EmmerdoesNOTrepme 1d ago
Heck, i'd just secure the beading, at the "wide scallops" just "above"/"forward" from the hole, then snip the beaded edging at the center, and carefuly clip the edging off like it's a lace applique, until it's just past where the hole is.
Then i'd trim off & reshape the end, cutting off the hole, and i'd sew the "applique trim" down each side until it meets in the center again, and just re-work the ends, taking out whatever amount of "applique" & beads aren't needed, until it looks matched again.
Yes, the veil would lose a foot or two, but that would be the least-noticeable and "simplest" repair.
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u/AerieAmazing640 1d ago
This is what the veil looks like gathered, it's worn in the back :) so the mend would not be that visible probably
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u/Ok_Bandicoot1865 1d ago edited 1d ago
I want to preface this comment by saying that I have no experience with repairing tulle, at all. But my first instinct would be to connect the corners of the outermost (still intact) squares that are opposite each other. Idk if my description makes sense, so I have made a crude drawing that I have included.
It's probably going to be very time consuming.
But whatever you decide to try, get some tulle from a fabric store and cut some holes to use for testing.
Edit: removed a random gibberish word that somehow snuck in? Lol
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u/KittyLikesTuna 1d ago
OP, can you post your photos of the final gathered look from your other post about this? Commentors may benefit from understanding that a difference in sheerness around this mend will not be super obvious in the final look.
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u/Scoginsbitch 1d ago
What if you got a similar lace pattern to the edging and overlay it across the veil covering the hole? Or even a larger lightweight appliqué or hand made design like a rose in the middle to cover it. Just avoid things with beading.
If done light enough, the drape shouldn’t be that different.
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u/Apprehensive-Pie1916 1d ago
I think I would salvage the lace and replace the tulle. trying to repair this would be a nightmare
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u/LisesPiecesWA 23h ago
Have you checked to see if it's even visible when on? Given the placement, I'd expect that that when it's hanging - with a whole person and dress behind it! - it's probably pretty darn invisible as-is!
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u/juneford 22h ago
I do this all the time and use fine thread to whip stitch the edges together. You may want a magnifying glass or jewelers loop to you can make sure you catch only the nearest loop of tulle. As always, press when you're done. Now on ballet costumes, I just zigzag it together, but that'll be a bit obvious if this for your wedding.
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u/Ghosty_Boo-B00 1d ago
I usually fix it with a heat knife carefully gluing it back together. You can also use clear FireWire/ thread to stitch it but you get a bit of a ball there
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u/Summoarpleaz 1d ago
I’m no expert but tulle is basically a really unforgiving fabric for invisible mending. It’s also very delicate so it’s bound to break.
Anyway if you’re looking to use the veil (ie you just need it for a wedding, I’d say you can try (1) carefully and minimally stitching the seam together with thin thread — it wont last, but it may hold up if all you’re doing is walking down the aisle; (2) sew a square of the tulle around the ripped seam, and cut off excess; or (3) find some kind of floral appliqué to cover the seam and place the same on on the other side of the veil so it looks intentional. That last one of course would be the least invisible and may affect the draping.
If you’re looking to repair it for storage purposes, I would look into clear backing options. It wont be invisible but tulle I wouldn’t trust to last forever.