Tutu Tutorial

I've had requests for instructions for the tutus.  This post is long overdue (I've been fighting killer allergies since I got back from vacation, so sorry if it doesn't make any sense).


To start out you will need tulle-from the fabric store-off the bolt. I've seen these made with the rolls of 6" tulle that you buy for like weddings and stuff, and that works too, but is more expensive.  Anyhoo-I usually use anywhere between 4 and 9 yards, depending on how long you want it to be, fullness etc.  I wish I could be more specific, but it's a science I haven't yet mastered.

(Just FYI - The finished tutus at the bottom are meant to fit a 5 or 6 year old, and use right around 7 yards each.)

First, the strips.  Decide how long you want the tutu to be, double it, and add one inch.  So, for example, if you want a 12 inch tutu, then you need to cut your strips 25 inches long.  The easiest way I've found to do this is to fold or bunch my by-the-yard tulle, and use my mat and rotary cutter to cut the lenth.

Leaving me with tulle that is cut to length, and then needs to be cut to width, which I do by taking my strips, turning them, folding/bunching like I did before, and then cutting the width.

As far as width goes, I've done anywhere from 3-6 inches but I like it best in the 5 to 5 1/2 inch range.

In the end you will have a whole bunch of tulle strips that measure (width)x(length).  (I hope this is making sense.)

For the waist, I measure the kiddo's waist (or a close estimate) then take off 3-4 inches (the elastic will stretch out a bit).  overlap it about 1/2 an inch, then hand stitch so that it holds together tightly. (I'm sure it could be machine sewn, but my machine freaks out when I try to sew elastic on it, thus, I hand stitch.)

Now the fun begins.  All of those strips of tulle you just made, get to be slip-knotted onto the elastic.

Keep going, adding strips in whatever pattern you desire.  Bunch the knots up as you go, until you reach the desired fullness.  Embellish with bows, or curly ribbons, etc. Then, you're done.

I really hope this was helpful and not too confusing (I'm new to the whole tutorial thing).  These are so much fun to make though, and very cute. 

Here are some of my recent finished products:

And, a variation, if you so desire:

This is an infant sized tutu.  It doesn't look very full in the picture , but in reality looked great on the baby I made it for.  Baby Sister's birthday tutu was made like this one too. 

The variation is that instead of making all of your strips go the same way, you tie one so it points down, and then the next one so it points straight up (I know it sounds weird, but trust me. Oh, and sorry I don't have a picture, but if you need one, just ask.)  When you are all done, just kind of fold the ones that are sticking up over and it will poof out nice and full.

Feel free to leave any questions in the comments and I will try to address them as best I can.