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)
Will the fullness of my Tutu depend on how wide I cut my strips of tulle?
Thank you for posting this tutorial. I am going to make a tutu for my new baby cousin and I was worried about how to do it…but not now! The only question I have is: How do you make your tutus look so full? Mine always seem to fall limp. I want this tutu to stand out! Do you have any suggestions?
This is slightly off topic, but I was wondering if you knew how to make a tutu hair bow holder? If so, would you happen to have a bodice templete? I am a new fan and just LOVE your blog and tutorials!!!!
i do! ill try to make that an upcoming tutorial
I have made several tutus &keep having the same problem- the elastic rolling when I’m tying the tulle on. How do you keep it from doing that?
I gave up & just started making them on ribbon because then it doesn’t matter, but I would like to be able to do
them on elastic.
Thanks!
hmm, how fat is your elastic? I imagine the bigger it is th emore it could roll
I was wondering can you use another material instead of the tulle? This just seems so much easier than all the other patterns I’ve seen. Thanks for any info you can give.
yes I dont see why not as long as you cut in strips that are thin enough
Thanks so much for the easy step by step instructions they were great and very helpful. Now hopefully my 2nd tutu will turn out better!
Hi, I just found this and want to thank you for posting it. I am just starting a photography business and am trying to make a lot of the items to use myself and was very happy to find your tutorial here for these! They sure couldn’t be any easier. LOL Also wanted to let you know that I am putting a link to your site on my blog right now so others in the business can check it out. I also love the tutu ball wand..I think I might be hanging out here a LOT for awhile
Thanks again!
I’ve never made anything with tulle, but I want to learn and want it to be good. What type should buy and where is the best place – cheapest place to buy it?
Thanks,
Barbara
Hi there…I’m making my first tutu for my daughters. How do you attach the ribbon around the waistline? Or when you say you put ribbon on to hide discrepencies are you just covering that one spot? Thanks!! And your tutorial was SO much easier to understand than the other ones I looked at!
We is the best place to buy tulle? And what tulle is the best to use?
HI! I just discovered your website and I LOVE it! I have made my daughter a tutu using ribbon for the waist instead of elastic, but wanted to ask you how/why does your tulle stay down!? My daughter’s keeps creeping up and looks all crazy. Not sure if its just static this time of the year or what. Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!!!!
~Heather J
just to clarify…..the ribbon works perfectly for the waist…..I am just referring to the tulle staying down and not floating up.
honestly i think just in general, tulle is crazy. what kind of tulle are you using?
Hi there, I want to make a tu tu for my new grand daughter who is 2 months old…af first I saw this
and thought WHAT? but ok I can l see how you do it after looking again…..so with a infant….the same
thing? and you sew the ends closed and pull over the tube? Before realizing I could get on here
I just bought 1/2 yd of tulle….so I need how much more…..???
Thanks for any tips…..My d in law would like one for each month’s picture/holiday…
Thanks!!!!
yeah you will probably need a LOT more tulle than that. I use about 20 yards
I prefer to by the pre cut rolls of tuttle
I have been making these tutus for my 2 yr old & 8 month old for a few months now. I made them matching tutus for thanksgiving & for christmas, I am planning on making one for my 2 yr olds birthday party but I am having trouble keeping the tulle “tight” on the elastic it always loosens up. Im just wondering if I am missing something or if there is a trick to it. Thanks! hope to hear back from you.
When you made your pink and green tutu in the picture how often did you alternate the colors?
I applied, I can see on my site
http://waterlily-sihirlieller.blogspot.com/search/label/basit%20t%C3%BCt%C3%BC
I didn’t realize these tutus were so easy to make. I came here on the lookout for a large sized Tulle pom pom though. You do have one for a small one, but I’m not sure how to measure for something that I can hang from the ceiling on my lil’ girl’s birthday party. Would you please email me, if you can’t post something here? Thanks!
Hi! thank you so much for this tute. The tutu is adorable and cute! Looking forward to more fabulous ideas. By the way we linked our post to your tutorial. Thanks a lot. have a nice day!
iLove This Very Helpful Thanksx
My Comment First *Good Times*
Thanks for the tutuorial. I followed this a couple of years ago and am doing it again with a group of women. Very helpful to have somewhere to refer people and I love your extra links to other ideas. Thank you!