Vegan Tulle Boa for Burlesque

I’m completing a new costume and I decided I wanted to add a feather boa… However, I want it to be vegan/ cruelty-free. I researched and asked around. Then I took my accumulative knowledge and came up with this method that I found surprisingly easy and the results are FABULOUS! In fact, I prefer it to a feather boa.

If you can’t be bothered to make this yourself, there are some wonderful places selling vegan boas on Etsy.com.

Please Note: I used a wide net tulle and did find that it would easily catch and tangle on beads. So take that into consideration with your costuming. Perhaps using a finer tulle or experimenting with this same method using a different fabric would prevent this issue.

What you will need:
-Tulle. There are so many different types to choose from! I chose a wide net stiff tulle, and a finer, soft tulle for some texture variation. I chose to buy tulle off the bolt and cut it down to size. You could save time by buying 6″ spools of tulle…However, i find this option can get very costly, because the promised yardage in a pre-made spool is rarely what you get, and so you have to keep buying more and more spools. I’ve bought “25 yard” spools that measured out to be only 14 yards. 

I bought a total of 16 yards from JoAnn Fabrics. However, 20 – 25 yards would have been better. More yards = more thick/fuller boa.

-Cord, in a matching color. I also found this at JoAnn Fabrics. I bought 2 1/2 yards.

-Needle and thick heavy duty thread.

Total cost: around $25.

STEP 1: Measure the length you want your boa to be. Tape the cord to prevent fraying and cut to size.

STEP 2: This is the most annoying step (if you are bought your tulle off the bolt like me). You want your strips of tulle to be 6-8 inches in WIDTH. The LENGTH can be as long as your yardage allows. You’re going to need alot of floor space to easily do this. So, fold your tulle and cut it so you end up long strips that are at least 6″ in width. (if you’re confused the video tutorial in the next step will clear things up)

STEP 3: Have you ever seen those giant tulle pom poms used for decoration usually at weddings and baby showers? That’s what you’re going to make! Watch this Youtube tutorial to learn how:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qWhBOrO_VQ&t=104s

STEP 4: Top photo you can see that I am making the start of the tulle balls (they look like bows) but not cutting them yet. I’m going to double knot them to the cord using the tie that closed my “bows” – Now, I HIGHLY recommend taking the time with a needle and some thick heavy duty thread to sew a few stitches between the knot that is attaching the tulle to the cord. This is going to help prevent the little strips of tulle from shedding over time. (Photo underneath you can see what it’s going to look like when you cut the bow to form the pom pom!)

STEP 5: Above are a few varying photos illustrating what I’m doing. I’m tying the bows of tulle onto the cord loosely so I can slide them around till they are in the right place and then i tightly double knot it and do a few hand stitches for extra security. I’m also varying the direction and angles of the bows on the cord. 

STEP 6: Cut the bows and fluff your balls (tee hee) eh’ viola! I could have trimmed the access tulle sticking out, but i liked the organic look. Check out this photo of the tulle boa Dorianne, from Doo & Oddistuffies, made following this tutorial. She trimmed it up and it looks so professional!