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)
That’s really a wonderful tutorial! Thanks Trisha. I love those cute tutus that I see worn by little girls, they’re so cute. Learning how to do it, I would definitely make a lot, in different colors for my niece
Love it! I can’t wait to start on my first tutu project.
Trying to make my daughter a tutu for her 1st birthday. How should i measure the tulle?
I love the instructions, I went for the creme de la creme of tulle (glitter tulle and shiny tulle) so it cost my a pretty penny. Making two for my daughter,it’s still cheaper then buying it, and I’m pregnant with twins and bored out of my mind so it keeps me busy without being very physical.
Awesome DIY tutu instructions. My daughter is nuts for strawberry shortcake, so I think I’ll try to make that one for Halloween. (I’ll let you know how it turns out!). Thanks!
Thank you for the help in making tutu.. I am making some for a friend but, how do you fluff them when they look flat??
Thanks for your help!
Have spent the better part of today making tutus for my 2 dogs
thank you for this tutorial, you made it so much easier as I was panicking over having to sew!!!
Cute tutus! They are way tooooo expensive in stores.
I loved this tutorial! I want to make my baby girl’s birthday tutu! I might make 2 since she’s having 2 parties, one on my side and on on my husband’s side. My only question is that when using more than one color, how many pieces of one color do you do in a row before alternating to the next color? Thanks!
Thank you for this tutorial. I love these tutus but they are pricey and I enjoy the idea of using them in photos and as gifts.
Thanks!!
Tina.
Hi Trisha- thank you so much for this, SO CUTE! I’m making tutus for the two flower girls in my upcoming wedding. I already tried starting one using a different tutorial but I think I’m making it more difficult than it has to be… One big question: are you cutting the tulle width or leaving it 6 inches across? The pictures look like you’re leaving it 6 inches.
Thanks for your help!
This is great!!! Thank you so much for posting and teaching! LOVE IT! Hoping to make one for my baby girl for Halloween this year.
visiting from http://lifewithabigfamily.blogspot.com/
Sandy actually has a woodland fairy shoot next month & I am going to suggest that she takes a peek at these instructions-love the share!
Thanks so much for this (cute photos too!). I have to make a tutu for a niece for a school event and did not know where to start. You make it sound easy
I have been making Tutu’s for a few months now!! I LOVE you tulle Wand.. ima make one for my Daughter to match all of her tutu’s i make her! thanks for the good crafty ideas. Ima Crafty person .. So ..TO MICHAELS i go to get my supplies!!! thanks!!!
OMG i luv this i made around 5 tutus already each per day
thanx!!!
I’m not a crafty person at all but want to make one for my litle girls first birthday coming up. How much would this project cost me if I purchased the stuff at walmart or any other store? Just wondering how much cheaper it would be to try tomake this versus buying one already made. THanks
Lee, I made a tutu for my 4 month old today and the supplies cost me $6.81 at Hobby Lobby. I only needed 4 yards of tulle (2 yards each color) it was $1.49/yd. and the elastic was 69 cents.
I did not make the tutu as long as hers though since my baby is still young and not as tall. And I didnt even use all the tulle I bought,
Laughed my butt off after reading your kitten tutu tutorial!! Hmm, I wonder how my dog would like one?
So I happen to find your how to make a tutu page today, I went out and bought my materials and have already made two. Of course my 12 week old daughter picks today to sleep more than two hours at a time so I cant try them on her tonight. Love the ideas you have posted, Im sure my daughter will have a tutu in every color by the end of the week. Thanks!!
Hi trisha. I love the tutu in the picture, so I’m going to a 80′s theme party tomorrow & I need to make a tutu since i don’t want to buy one & I cant find one that blows me away, so i rather make one. my question is how many tulle strands do I buy to make the tutu ? I understand everything else but how many should I buy so it can go all around ? I’m thinking of pink, lime green & purple.
Hope To hear from you. Thanks !
Thank you there are a lot of good ideas on your site, I love it!