Choosing a Veil
by Huraiva
This is information on veils from my own experience and advice I have gleaned from the internet; there are great resources on the internet if you wish to do your own additional research. Here are the answers to some of the questions I receive from my students.
What materiel should you use for your veil?
Well it really depends on what you want to do with it and your level of skill. Any lightweight floaty fabric will work in theory; however, ultra light fabrics are more difficult to work with, while heavier fabrics take more strength. Common fabrics used include silk, chiffon, organza, tissue lame and I’ve even heard of velvet for outside use. I have a pair of half circle veils that I made out of lining weight satin that work well. (Instructions for making half circle veils can be found here.)
What weight of silk should you get?
Silk is measured in momme (mm) with the smaller the number the lighter the silk. I would not recommend anything heavier than 8mm unless you are planning on doing outside veil work, even then I wouldn’t go over 10mm. 5 or 6mm is much lighter in weight, almost sheer, and good for slow floating veil work. It does not work well for uses where you want to be able to whip it around. Also, the lighter silk weights have more of a tendency to have static problems than the heavier weights.
How do you get rid of static?
First, don’t store your veil in a plastic bag, it will make the static worse and the silk needs to breathe. Second, don’t use a dryer sheet or static guard on silk as it can cause stains and the chemicals break down the silk fibers. Hanging your veil in the bathroom while you shower or near a home humidifier should help with static. Also, using your veil helps as your skins oils are released to the veil it helps decrease the static. Or you can try running your veil over a metal hanger. Finally, you can try a new trick I’ve heard of but not tried, using one of the new ionized hair dryers that are supposed to help with static in hair, on the veil.
What size veil should you get?
Generally, you hear 3 yards by 45 inches for a rectangular veil. However, if you are making one yourself you can make it to your own height and arm width. You want the veil to be just above ankle length when you hold it in front of you and to extend 12-18 past each hand when your arms are outstretched. Other standard veil sizes I have seen are 36x90, 45x90, 45x144, 54x108 and 54x144. The larger veils sizes allow for some interesting tricks, but should really be only used in very light material and even then left to advanced veil users. A true semi-circular veil is either 45x90 or 54x108 both work equally well for double veil, the smaller size is easier for shorter dancers to use, while the larger size gives you some extra length for things like trying to recapture the end after you have let it go in either one handed moves or double veil.
What shape veil should you get?
There are four different shapes of veil I have heard of, the most common is rectangular. You can do almost everything with a rectangular veil, though there are double veil and one handed moves which really only work well with semi-circular veils. If you are getting your very first veil, start with a rectangle in either chiffon or 8mm silk. Rectangular with rounded corners is what you get if you have a quasi-semi-circular veil which is not twice as long as it is wide. Semi-circular veils are true semi circles, twice as long as they are wide. This is the shape that works best for one handed non-twisted veil work and for double veil. The fourth shape I have heard of but never seen – it is 2/3 circular – my understanding is it is like a circle skirt that is missing the last of its three panels. I have never tried using it and I am not certain exactly what kind of veil work it would work best for.
Should you get a veil with trim?
Trim adds weight to the edge of the veil and changes how it flows through the air. It is useful for semi-circular veils since so much is done one handed and it allows you to know which edge you are grabbing without looking. One thing about trim is if it is something hard, you want to be very careful you don’t accidentally hit yourself or someone else with the veil as it may hurt.
Choosing the right veil for yourself is a personal choice. I own rectangular veils in organza, chiffon, 5mm silk and 8mm silk, I also own semi-circular veils in satin and silk and in two different sizes. They are all good for something and often the veil I choose is dictated by the moves I want to use and the type of music I will be dancing to. I personally don’t think you can have too many veils!
What materiel should you use for your veil?
Well it really depends on what you want to do with it and your level of skill. Any lightweight floaty fabric will work in theory; however, ultra light fabrics are more difficult to work with, while heavier fabrics take more strength. Common fabrics used include silk, chiffon, organza, tissue lame and I’ve even heard of velvet for outside use. I have a pair of half circle veils that I made out of lining weight satin that work well. (Instructions for making half circle veils can be found here.)
What weight of silk should you get?
Silk is measured in momme (mm) with the smaller the number the lighter the silk. I would not recommend anything heavier than 8mm unless you are planning on doing outside veil work, even then I wouldn’t go over 10mm. 5 or 6mm is much lighter in weight, almost sheer, and good for slow floating veil work. It does not work well for uses where you want to be able to whip it around. Also, the lighter silk weights have more of a tendency to have static problems than the heavier weights.
How do you get rid of static?
First, don’t store your veil in a plastic bag, it will make the static worse and the silk needs to breathe. Second, don’t use a dryer sheet or static guard on silk as it can cause stains and the chemicals break down the silk fibers. Hanging your veil in the bathroom while you shower or near a home humidifier should help with static. Also, using your veil helps as your skins oils are released to the veil it helps decrease the static. Or you can try running your veil over a metal hanger. Finally, you can try a new trick I’ve heard of but not tried, using one of the new ionized hair dryers that are supposed to help with static in hair, on the veil.
What size veil should you get?
Generally, you hear 3 yards by 45 inches for a rectangular veil. However, if you are making one yourself you can make it to your own height and arm width. You want the veil to be just above ankle length when you hold it in front of you and to extend 12-18 past each hand when your arms are outstretched. Other standard veil sizes I have seen are 36x90, 45x90, 45x144, 54x108 and 54x144. The larger veils sizes allow for some interesting tricks, but should really be only used in very light material and even then left to advanced veil users. A true semi-circular veil is either 45x90 or 54x108 both work equally well for double veil, the smaller size is easier for shorter dancers to use, while the larger size gives you some extra length for things like trying to recapture the end after you have let it go in either one handed moves or double veil.
What shape veil should you get?
There are four different shapes of veil I have heard of, the most common is rectangular. You can do almost everything with a rectangular veil, though there are double veil and one handed moves which really only work well with semi-circular veils. If you are getting your very first veil, start with a rectangle in either chiffon or 8mm silk. Rectangular with rounded corners is what you get if you have a quasi-semi-circular veil which is not twice as long as it is wide. Semi-circular veils are true semi circles, twice as long as they are wide. This is the shape that works best for one handed non-twisted veil work and for double veil. The fourth shape I have heard of but never seen – it is 2/3 circular – my understanding is it is like a circle skirt that is missing the last of its three panels. I have never tried using it and I am not certain exactly what kind of veil work it would work best for.
Should you get a veil with trim?
Trim adds weight to the edge of the veil and changes how it flows through the air. It is useful for semi-circular veils since so much is done one handed and it allows you to know which edge you are grabbing without looking. One thing about trim is if it is something hard, you want to be very careful you don’t accidentally hit yourself or someone else with the veil as it may hurt.
Choosing the right veil for yourself is a personal choice. I own rectangular veils in organza, chiffon, 5mm silk and 8mm silk, I also own semi-circular veils in satin and silk and in two different sizes. They are all good for something and often the veil I choose is dictated by the moves I want to use and the type of music I will be dancing to. I personally don’t think you can have too many veils!