I have seen a lot of inquirers on how to make tutus, etc. so i brought over some information from my site to share with y’all!
- Free Tutu Instructions (These show good pics!)
- Tutu Instructions site 2
- Tutu Instructions site 3 (these are good!)
- How to make a Tutu Halter Dress
- How to make a Layered Tutu
- How to make a tutu for your Barbie (new!)
This is the one I made~ Make sure you scrunch your tulle together really well to have a really full tutu! Also, to add to these instructions since it isn’t listed, 6 inch tulle works really well, not the big tulle you find on the bolts. Premeasure your tulle out and it has to be about 22-24 inches in length so when you fold it in half, it hangs long enough. To measure your waist, make sure you measure your model and then take off about 2-3 inches of elastic..I know that sounds drastic, but as you put on the tulle and tighten it, it stretches the elastic out and makes it bigger..so if you don’t take down the waist size before, your waist will end up really big and you will be taking it half apart. Trust me, I did it twice.
Make sure you add some embellishments like sparkles or pom poms when your done! I added flowers to mine!
Mud Pie Baby Perfectly Princess Tutu Dress, 0-6 Months
Cotton Candy & Bubble Gum Tutu for Infant
Small Miracles Girl’s Glamour Light Up Tutu
Pink Ballerina Princess Costume Tutu Party Dressup 6/8
Danskin Girls Leotard with Tutu and Bow Detail



Hello,
I made a tutu for my daughter birthday and it turned out really well, the only thing is it get’s knotty and bunched instead of smooth and pooffy, any advice??
You can use this method to make wigs as well – when I made a tutu for my daughter, I made a black and blue pirate wig for my 2-year-old son. Just cut the tulle a bit shorter (14-16″). I’m planning to make a brown-and-tan lion’s mane for him next!
What do you spray on your tutu’s to prevent them from sticking together???
I’ve already made a couple of tutus and I’m happy with them except for the ends. I had purchased one and the ends are very even. Is there a trick to trimming the tutu once you are all done tying on the tulle? Thanks.
did you use 3 layers of tule for the one you made? if so, what was the pattern?
OK. I’m trying to make a tutu for my 5 year old. I made a red and black one with tulle from walmart on the bolt. I cut it in 2 inch or so wide strips and 24 inches long. I tried to make it really full with the tie method. but how do you get the strips to stand up o stiff out like in your pics? Mine just scrunched together. Do you use starch or stiff stuff? Please help I want to make her the perfect tutu for her birthday! Thank you for your help!!!
I did mine in layers…so i did like shorter and longer over the top of each other so it poofed out more. I also put a TON of tulle on there.
trisha
Hi,
I’m just curious why you prefer the 6″ spool vs. the tulle on the bolt. I am having a hard time finding the colors I want in the spool! (I don’t want to order online because I want to see the fabric in person).
Also, how many yards do you think I would need for a 1 yr. old tutu?
Thank you so much!
Its pre-cut on one side on the 6″…the bolt is going to be like 3 yard across, so you have to cut it twice. If you get the spools, you only cut it at the length…it just makes it easier.
Hi! Which directions did you use for your daughter’s tutu? Its adorable!
My own! ill make one coming up and publish in here…i am trying to decide the colors!
sorry I meant *thin not thing
I doubled up my tulle and used the slip knot technique but my tutu is still coming out very thing and it’s all one layer. every tutu I see seems like it has multiple layers to it. How do I get this look?
Hi!
These are so cute! Which of the linked instructions did you use?
Thanks!
[...] wait, I’m supposed to be blogging about how to make tutu’s and scrapbooking too cuz according to the Times, I care about those [...]
Hi! Thanks so much for posting this! I want to make a couple of collegiate tutus for our daughter to wear this fall at football games. She’s not born yet, but she’ll be about 6 months old by the time football season rolls around. What’s the best way to know how much elastic to use? Would it be safe for me to measure the circumference of a size 6-9 month onesie and just use that?
Thanks for the awesome info!!! I have been eyeing some awesome tutu’s online and just couldn’t see myself throwing out all that money for 2 tutu’s for my daughters. A friend suggested making one and to google I went!!!
My question is, when I go to JoAnn’s, how many yards of tulle do I need? I have an almost 4 year old and a 7 month old. Any ideas from experienced tutu makers would be much appreciated!
I used 100 yards of 6 inch tulle for a 21 inch waist band and they are very full ( I cut mine at 26 inches in length)
how did you get the flowers on????
I have 2 yr old twins so I have made a few tutus (thanks so much for the instructions they’ve saved me TONS!!!!) I started out making them on waistband wide elastic and I’ve even tried the very skinny elastic and no matter which i use the tulle stretches it out so much that there’s no elasticity left in the waistband… I have consequently started just making them on ribbon and sewing a hook and eye where each end of the ribbon “meets” at their bellies, then tying off the excess into a pretty bow in the front. I would like to know how to keep the elastic from stretching so much but still being able to keep the tulle taut and jam packed on the waistband so it keeps its fluff… any suggestions??
You really can’t keep it tight – I measure their waist and take 3 inches off and use a safety pin to hold the elastic together. Then I put on the tulle and when I get close to the safety pin I measure it around them again and cut the elastic if I need to. But usually taking 3 inches off is about perfect.
littlemissbeautifuldesigns.com for tutu dresses. custom made with yards and yards of tulle. awesome prices
Where do you buy the tulle and waist band? than you so much. Elizabeth
i buy tulle wholesale, but you can buy per project at walmart, joann fabrics, or hobby lobby. The price is anywhere from 99cents to $2 a yard
Waist band elastic you can get those places as well and costs about $2.
http://www.giftsintl-us.com/products.php?cat=83 Very cheap and they ship fast. However, they don’t have all of the bright colors I wanted. The waist band I have bought at Hobby Lobby and JoAnnes fabrics
Thanks a ton for this site I just ordered stuff to make a tutu for my daughters first bday I am so excited to make it
i am so excited i found these cheap and easy instructions. now i can be a REAL bumble bee ballarina!!!!!!
Thank you so much for this! I was going to buy a tutu but they cost almost $30 here and I didnt know if the packaged one would fit. This is a great source and your directions are super easy. I used the ones for the layered tutu instead but alternated colors and just tied two of the same color together instead.
Here was my end result. http://tinypic.com/r/2mhj05z/4
so cute!
Great instructions! My tutu seems much flatter and more see through than yours any ideas on how i can make it stand out more and be thicker?
scrunch your tulle closer together to add more
Also, your tule seems like it has layers to it or something.
Mine seems so transparent.
What can I do to fix this?
I just alternated colors and put a ton of tulle on it. I pushed the knots REALLY close and tight together.
It also depends on how you tie it. There were several websites that she sent listed. If you go to the third one, it tells you to tie it in just a normal knot. That will give you more layers and make it poofier than if you tie it with the slip-knot thing.
Your directions helped me so much.
The only problem I’m having is with cutting the tule. It never comes out nice and straight. Is there anyway to buy it pre-cut maybe?
Help please!
i would fold it and then cut. You can buy it precut if you buy wholesale
I have never made a tutu before and want to make one for my daughter. I’ve seen ones where the ends of the tulle are more pointy like a fairy type tutu. How do you do that?
To make the tulle pointy, you’ll just fold your strip in half before you loop it (tie it) and cut the end into a point. This will make it more fairy-like.
Thank you so much!
I just wanted to say this is a great tutorial! I am a mom of two boys and a girl and the girl is the yongest and she is very girlie, girlie. I am looking forward to making her a Tutu for Halloween. I am thinking of making a couple for some birthdays! Thanks for the info!
This year I am making a blue and green tutu for my halloween costume as a fairy, except when i do the two colored tutu tutorial so far you can see my pants underneath…
what do I do to fix that?
I’ve got 3 yards of blue and 3 years of green.
Advice Please…
I used your tutorial to make a red and black tutu for my daughter’s ladybug costume. I then took and extra yard of the red tulle and folded it until it fit her back from wrist to wrist then cut it into a half circle. I sewed black felt circles to the top layer and pinned it to a black shirt. It came out great – the tutu helps keep the back in the half-circle and my daughter loves the tutu (and keeps asking for it, but she has to wait until Halloween). Now I have a request for a Tinkerbell tutu – but she’ll have to wait until next weekend!
Is there anyway to post a pic of your lady bug? I am making my daughter a lady bug for halloween as well and I wanted to see your idea? Thanks tiffany
Just made my 25 month old grandaughter a tutu and she and i love it, but the one thing that is driving me crazy is that averytime she moves it bunches up. Is there a way to keep that from happening?
You may want to shorten the tulle length for her age. ALso there are different textures of tulle. The softer bunches more easily.
Thanks so much for your replay. Her length is good, I made it 13 inches. I can now see that a heavier tulle might be better. I cut my stripes 3 inches, and I’m thinking that 6 inches would also help in it not bunch as much.
Can you now tell me how to make a pom pom out of tulle?
my friend trisha has a tutorial for that on http://www.sweetnsassygirls.com
Great tutorial on the ruffled socks!! Thanks for taking the time to put that up!
I bought off the bolt. If I cut in strips of 6 inch wide and make them 20 – 24 inches long, will my tutu look that full? I think your pink and green one is perfect. I just look at the black one I have started and think it looks really transparent. I am trying to fluff. But, I’m worried.