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)
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.
If the hot glue is too thick for you, you can use fabric glue. It would just take longer to dry.
Thanks, Trisha!
I used one of the links to make bows..but I am sooo not good at it. Any suggestions for the glue? I used a glue gun and the glue is so bulky!
I use super glue GEL in making bows all the time and it holds fabulously! – dries almost instantly! – and zero bulk! Make sure you get the GEL though because the liquid will bleed through the ribbon and you will be able to see it. Not very pretty. Also, clean up any edges where the gel squeezed out when you press the two pieces together or it will dry to the next thing it touches. I use ribbon scraps to wipe it off quickly since I’m throwing them away anyway.
)
@ Tiffany:
a lot of times, hobby lobby and joanns both do 50% off tulle yards during sales every 3-4 weeks. Just buy in bulk at that time.
@ christina:
i just got a regular headband and glued some flowers on it
Where can I purchase Tulle for a low cost? Most sites are charging $6-$9 for shipping!!!! =(
Yes! I was thinking of spending like $30 on one from a dancewear boutique or something…Now I know that I can make something more original for cheaper. Thanks for this!
btw is that your daughter? She’s really cute:)!!
they look great!! btw did you also make that headband in the second picture? if so, how?
I love this! I am a puffy skirt tutu fanatic. Now I can make my own! Love this!
This is a great site! Thank you. We are having our Male executive director and assistant executive director dress as Ballerina’s for a fundraiser and this was brilliant! Thank you!