How-To: Flower Girl Fairy Wings

Materials
Two bendable wire hangers
Fabric (we used two shades of dupioni silk and tulle -- anything will do, but it's nice to have something sheer over something more opaque)
Clear packing tape
Ribbon
Scissors
Stapler



Step 1: Straighten out the hooks at the top of each hanger so they point directly up. If you'd like your wings to be curved, you can also round out the edges and bottom of the hangers. (We left ours as they come.)



Step 2: Line up the hangers so they face each other, with the straightened-out hooks crossing over each other into the opposite hanger. Wrap packing tape around where the hangers meet to secure them together.

Step 3: Lay the hangers on top of the fabric that will serve as the base layer. Fold one side over the long edge of one of the hangers, bringing it up to the point where the two hangers meet. Trace around the hanger on the top layer of fabric, leaving about an extra inch on all sides.



Step 4: Cut around the hanger using the outline you just made, making sure to go through both layers of fabric. Leave the small bit of fabric between the two hangers intact, so that the fabric you just cut out is still attached to the larger uncut piece.

Step 5: Repeat the process with the other hanger -- fold over the fabric, trace the hanger and cut around the outline. Make sure that the fabric is doubled over at the base of the hanger, so you end up with a single piece of fabric.



Step 6: Gather the bit of fabric in the center (the piece that connects the two larger cutouts) around the straightened-out hooks, and secure it with packing tape.

Step 7: Lay the hangers so that when the fabric is spread all the way out, the hangers are on top of the fabric. The side facing the table will be the front of the wings (facing away from the flower girl's back), while the side facing up will be the back of the wings (facing the flower girl's back).

Step 8: Fold each side of the fabric toward the center, so it covers the hanger. Starting on one side, roll the cut edges of fabric over the hanger and inward. Secure the fabric with a stapler. If you can't get the stapler through, trim some fabric from the edge so your roll is a little thinner. When you're done with both sides, the hangers will be entirely encased in fabric. It's totally fine if the fabric isn't perfectly smooth -- this adds charm, and makes the project more wing-like! Also, whatever you're doing now will soon be covered with another layer.

Step 9: Cut your next layer of fabric (we used tulle -- something sheer with a little bit of structure works best here) into a rectangle about three times the size of the wings. Spread it out under the wings, with the front of the wings facing down. Gather the edges of the fabric at the center of the wings, where the two hangers overlap. It's fine if the fabric doesn't completely close and some edges are left, as long nothing's left awkwardly hanging. Use packing tape to secure the edges of the fabric around the center of the wings. This will leave the gathered edges will be on the back of the wings.

Step 10: Cut a length of ribbon and tie a large bow. Then, wrap the loose ends of the bow around the center of the wings, making sure the loops stay on the backside of the wings. Keep wrapping the ribbon around the center until it completely covers the packing tape, and then tie the ends together. The flower girl will put her arms through the loops and slide them up over her shoulders, wearing the wings like a backpack.



Step 11: (Optional) Cut out long, thin pieces of fabric -- we used the base layer from the wings along with another coordinating color. Tie each piece around the center of the wings so they hang at different lengths.