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!
This is the one I made~ Make sure you scrunch your tulle together really well to have a really full tutu! I use about 20 yards of tulle in each of mine.
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.
On elastic size, that’s preference. I find with older girls, the 1 inch is a good size, but for the babies, you may want something less wide like a 3/4th inch elastic. They cost about $1.20 at walmart.
To add to these instructions since it isn’t listed in a lot of places, 6 inch tulle works really well, not the big tulle you find on the bolts. I use the big tulle on the bolts, so I end up having to cut in a lot of ways to get it to be not to thick. If you go that route, you generally have to cut the length and width.
Premeasure your tulle out and have it all ready so you can basically go from start to finish. A general rule is that it should be about 22-24 inches in length so when you fold it in half, it hangs long enough. If you measure out 24 inches, it will be 12 inches in length. So basically half your length to determine how long the skirt is. I do all the trimming at the end so I dont worry so much.
Where you did the sewing will be a little hard to close the last few pieces of tulle over the top. I always put an embellishment in that area to cover up any discrepancy.
TIP: Instead of Elastic, you can use big satin ribbon and the just tie in a bow. Its easy removal…but that’s half the problem…your child, especially if you have a young one, can remove it. Elastic is a lot more snug.
Some Halloween Ideas for Tutus:
- Red Tulle with Black Puff Balls glued on Make a LadyBug
- Orange, Purple, and Black tulle for a witch
- Yellow, Orange, White for Candy Corn
- Hot Pink and Lime Green for Strawberry Shortcake
- White and Light Pink for a “50′s” Look
- Purple and Light green for a Fairy
- Yellow and Black for a Bumble Bee
Make sure you add some embellishments like sparkles or pom poms when your done! I added flowers to mine!
Other Embellishments include things like Satin Ribbons, Rhinestones, Puff Balls, Flowers, Rose petals, or small premade ribbons that you can find at Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby.
I use hot glue.
Come see my newest tutorials
HOW TO MAKE A FAIRY WAND
Other tutu posts of mine I would love for you to check out:
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Other sites that may help you (but my instructions are probably as clear as you are going to find)
*coming soon will be Fairy Tutu instructions
- Free Tutu Instructions site #1
- Tutu Instructions site 2
- Tutu Instructions site 3 (these are good!)
- How to make a Fairy Wand (w/ crystal ball – i made this, its super cute!)
- How to Make a Tulle wand (my site! very cute!)
- How to make a Tutu Halter Dress site #1
- How to make a Tiered Tulle Skirt
- How to make a Tulle Halter Dress site #2
- How to make a Layered Tutu
- How to make a tutu for your Barbie (new!)
- try instructions on ruffled socks
- How to make a Pillowcase Dress
- How to make a Pettiskirt (martha stewart)
- How to make a Pettiskirt with pattern tutorial
- How to make a beaded headband
- My favorite place to shop, and they have tutu’s and tutu outfits quite a bit!
- Tutu Pour Mon Deux
- Mud Pie Baby Perfectly Princess Tutu Dress, 0-6 Months
- Cotton Candy & Bubble Gum Tutu for Infant
- Small Miracles Girl’s Glamor Light Up Tutu
- Pink Ballerina Princess Costume Tutu Party Dressup 6/8
- Danskin Girls Leotard with Tutu and Bow Detail
And my friend Koris page where you can find AMAZING princess hairstyles like this one she did!
(picture used with permission)
Did you really use 20 yards?! I only bought 4 yards:(
Yes, i really do! I really pack it in there
I just finished making my first tutu using your instructions. It turned out super cute! I have 5 altogether that I will be making for my soon-to-be two year old. She is having a Tinkerbell themed birthday party. I wanted to surprise a friend, by making her 3 month old, a tutu. Does anyone know what size waist for a 3 month old?
I just made a tutu and it turned out amazing!! So simple to make. My daughter is 3 weeks and is having her newborn pictures taken in a couples days and I have 3 of them for her to wear!
I have a question. It says to put a bow where you “sewed”. What sewing? Is there a need to sew?
yes, you have to sew the waist band together
Oh my gosh! I’ve been searching frantically for a tutu/tulle skirt for a tutu/top hats party. Everything is way out of my budget ($150 my butt!), and most things aren’t even guaranteed to get here on time. This simple tutorial just saved my butt, and satisfies my creative need. Thank you so much!
You were looking at the low end of REAL tutus that professional Pointe dancers wear. Obviously not what you needed.
Love it! We are working on creating the Cyndi Lauper look for the elders at the home for our halftime show of the 2nd Annual Wheel Chair Super Bowl in February. They will be performing “Girls Just Want To Have Fun!”. The instructions are so simple and we are gonna start putting it together in the next few days.
I am if someone could please help me I made a tutu for my daughter and the strands off tulle keep coming loose. I have to tighten them repeatedly through the day as she is wearing it. Is there a better way to tie the tulle or stitch it? Please someone help me!!!!!
You can wrap a satin ribbon around the waist. Use fabric glue and it will not come undone.
i am on the board of an organization called Fairy Godmother Inc. we provide prom gowns for girls with finanical hardships. every year we hold prom fair where girls can get gowns for $10 …jewelry, makeup and purses and more…they’ll spend no more $20 and get every thing they need for prom…
anyway…
This year i decided to get a little more in the spirit and im making myself a white tutu. sure i might be 28 but I love my organization…and cmon what girl doesnt love a tutu!
thanks for the tutorial! i cant wait to make it!!!
Wow.. this is so awesome! my best friend is having twins and I really wanted to make her game day tutus for her girls when they are older.. but I wasn’t sure if i’d get them in time for her baby shower. I saw this and not only does it save me money but It’s super simple to follow!
Great tutorial. I have made a few and they look great; however, the ones I see on Etsy almost look as if they have different lengths of tulle and as if they are starch (to stick straight out)?? Do you try to keep you elastic straight, so you maintain the 1 inch waistband? Because it looks like you allow it to crimp….which is great because I have been pulling my hair out tring to keep the elastic straight!!
I just made a Valentine tutu for my 1 year old with your directions! I cannot wait to see her in it! Thanks!
I made two. I used a roll of paper towel and pinned it to it while I worked on tying the tulle on, it worked great for me!
I made one for my daughter but when she sat with it on it all wrinkled up into a mess. Did I use the wrong kind of tiller?
Tutus are made with delicate materials, such as tulle, so they tend to squish/wrinkle if sat on or placed in box, etc…
Here are a few tips to straighten out your tutu:
1- Lightly spray with starch, then run your fingers through the tutu until the tulle straightens out.
2- Run a hot, steamy shower or bath and hang your tutu in the bathroom for 10-15 minutes then lightly run your fingers through the tutu until the tulle straightens out.
3- Use a steamer while you run your fingers through the tutu until the tulle straightens out.
Thanks for these simple directions- you saved my Halloween dreams of making a costume instead of buying one! They came out great!!!
I just made tutus for my girls using your directions ~ I can’t wait for them to wear them in our Christmas pictures! Thank you~
Just made the tutu’s tonight following your instructions! They look so cute! Can’t wait to make some more! Directions were clear and easy to follow…Thank You!
glad it went so well!
I would like to know how do u get the tutu from bunching up. I have made a tutu but the strands stick together
Hi! LOVE the tutorial. You mentioned using the 6″ wide tulle, but I don’t like the way that looks. I know each piece is about 22″ long, but how wide do you cut your pieces?