tutu for you

Filed Under Favourites, Tips & Tricks | February 1, 2012

We’re all about dressing up in our house. We’re reticent, however, to spend tonnes of money on togs that will be spilled on, torn and generally played with until they dissolve.  Bowing to a request for more ballerina related attire, we decided to make some tutus…and get our primas to lend a hand.

This simple pattern is almost no sew and once an adult does the initial cutting, your little one can do all of the tutu-ing on their own. Or better yet, make it a family experience and have everyone make their own tutu, together.

Supplies (for one tutu):

  • 1-3 metres of tulle, depending on how poufy you want your tutu.  We also like using at least 2 colours.
  • 1 metre of expandable elastic (also known as maternity elastic)
  • 1 button
  • Rotary cutter to cut the tulle (scissors work too, but rotary cutter is easier if you have one)

Method:
First, measure the waist of the tutu-wearer.  Deduct about 7 cm from that measurement and that will give you a snug tutu.  Sew your button to one end of the elastic then close it at the desired waist length.

Cut the tulle into strips that are 15 cm wide. Each strip will be about 120 cm long, so unless you want a really long tutu, you might want to cut your strips in half so that your tutu is about 30 cm long (you’ll be folding your tulle strips in half). If you’re feeling especially lazy, head to a craft store and buy spools of tulle that are already about 15 cm wide so all you have to do is cut the length.

Now you’re ready to build your tutu!

Take a seat on your couch, prop up your foot and pull the elastic up to your thigh…like a garter.  Seriously.  It’s the easiest way to tie on the tulle.

Take one piece of the cut tulle and slip it under the elastic and even up the ends so that each side has equal amounts of tulle, and then tie a double knot.  It’s that easy. Keep on adding tulle…we like to alternate colours.  Try to aim the knot part towards the bottom so it lays nicely. Keep adding tulle until the tutu reaches the desired fullness.  At this point, your wee tutu-wearer can decorate at will with ribbons, bows, sequins and more.

We think this tutu would make an excellent gift for any aspiring twirly friends your little ones may have. And the fact that they can lend a hand makes it an even more special gift.

We were inspired to make this tutu by the step-by-step tutorial offered by Plumtickled…she even has pictures.

With all the tutu-rifficness going on in our house, we feel that a command performance of Swan Lake is just around the corner…

No tutu lovers in your house?  Never fear…next week we’ll share our cape making secrets with you!

 

Leave a Comment

Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!