How to Make a Tutu Skirt

A tutu skirt is a lovely gift for children, or great for yourself. Best of all, it's simple and easy to make, no sewing necessary.

Things You Should Know

  • To make a tutu skirt, you need an elastic band, plenty of tulle, scissors, and glue.
  • Cut the elastic band to be 4 inches (10 cm) shorter than your waist.
  • Trim the tulle to your preferred length and either use your glue to secure the tulle to the band or tie it directly around the band.
  • If you find it difficult to cut the tulle, wrap the tulle around a sheet of cardboard to guide your scissors.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Elastic

  1. Image titled Make a Tutu Skirt Step 1
    1
    Take waist measurements. Have the tutu-wearer-to-be stand still, with their back straight.[1]
    • With a measuring tape, measure from their waist to the part of their leg where the tutu skirt should end.
    • Most tutus fall between 11 in. (28 cm) and 23 in. (58 cm) from the waist.
  2. 2
    Cut the elastic. You’ll need a piece of elastic that is about 4 in. (10 cm) shorter than the waist measurement.
    • Glue the ends of the elastic together.
    • Use a generous amount glue over the area to ensure the elastic will not come apart.
    • You should now have an elastic circle.
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    3
    Have the person try on the elastic. This will ensure it is tight enough around the waist. Adjust it, if necessary.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Preparing the Tulle

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    1
    Choose the tulle. Tulle comes in many different colors and can be found in fabric stores or arts and crafts stores. Look for 6” wide tulle, in your chosen color.
    • Most tutus are a solid color, but different colors of tulle can also be used together.
  2. Image titled Make a Tutu Skirt Step 5
    2
    Buy more tulle than you need. It is better to have extra tulle on hand in case of mistakes or for making corrections.
    • For a tutu skirt for a small child, purchase at least 10 yards (9 m).
    • For an adult, purchase at least 15 yards (13.7 m).
  3. 3
    Cut the tulle. How long or short depends on how long you want the skirt to be and how tall the person wearing it is. Generally, you should take the desired finished length of the tutu and multiply it by 2. Then, add 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) to that number to get the strip length. Make each tulle strip between 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) wide.
    • So, for example, if the length of the finished tutu will be 20 in. (50 cm), cut the tulle into strips 41.5 in. (105 cm) long and 3 in. (7.6 cm) wide.
    • It’s a good idea to make the tutu 3” to 4” longer than you think it need to be, as once it starts puffing out, it will seem a lot shorter. You can always adjust the skirt to make it shorter, but you cannot make it longer once the tulle has been cut.[2]
  4. 4
    Use a piece of cardboard to help you cut the tulle easily. Wrap the tulle around the cardboard and slip your scissors under the wrapped tulle, on each end of the cardboard, to cut the tulle on both ends.
    • Keep in mind pre-cut tulle is 6’ wide, which is the right width for the skirt. If you’re using pre-cut tulle, you just have to unroll the tulle and cut each strip to the proper length as you go.
  5. 5
    Cut the edges of the tulle pieces at an angle to add dimension. Sometimes, tutus that are flat across the bottom can look a little dull.[3]
    • Cut several pieces at once at an angle to speed up the process. Don’t worry about keeping the edges very tidy, as you want to add texture to the tutu.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Making the Tutu

  1. 1
    Attach the tulle to the elastic band with glue. Do this by folding the tulle strips over the elastic band. Then, glue the two layers together just below the elastic with a glue stick or glue gun.
    • Repeat this process for all of the tulle strips until the circle is complete.
  2. 2
    Tie the tulle to the elastic. If you don’t have access to a glue stick or glue gun, you can knot the tulle one piece at a time onto the elastic.
    • Take a piece of tulle and fold it in half. Wrap the looped end around the elastic and pull the other ends up, around, and through the loop. Then, pull the tulle tight, securing it around the elastic.
    • Repeat the ties until the entire elastic band is covered in tulle. Make sure you gradually push the knots around the elastic together so that as the elastic stretches, there are no gaps in the tulle.
    • Feel free to mix and match or layer colors of tulle on the elastic to create a unique look.
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    3
    Check the fit of the skirt. Have the person try on the tutu to make sure the length is correct and it is easy to move or dance in.
  4. Image titled Make a Tutu Skirt Step 12
    4
    Add any finishing touches like ribbon or flowers to the tutu. Add ribbon by tying them or gluing them onto the elastic. If you want to add buttons, flowers, or other embellishments, simply pin them onto the tutu or onto the elastic.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Would I be able to finish this in a few hours?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. The glue would take some time to dry, but if you used a sewing machine rather than glue, it would probably just take an hour. It depends on how experienced you are with sewing and such.
  • Question
    Would it be a good idea to make these and sell them on a school market day?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If there are a lot of dancers at your school, sure.
  • Question
    Can I wear this to school to be kawaii?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Sure! As long as it's not a violation of the dress code, that's a great idea.
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Things You'll Need

  • An elastic strip 1/2 inches (1.27 cm) wide
  • Measuring tape
  • Tulle
  • Glue or a glue gun

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.beehiveandbirdsnest.com/2011/10/how-to-make-a-very-full-tutu.html
  2. ↑ http://www.beehiveandbirdsnest.com/2011/10/how-to-make-a-very-full-tutu.html
  3. ↑ http://www.beehiveandbirdsnest.com/2011/10/how-to-make-a-very-full-tutu.html
  4. Videos provided by baileysblossoms

About This Article

Connie Tao
Co-authored by:
Connie Tao
Bridal Designer
This article was co-authored by Connie Tao. Connie Tao is a Bridal Designer and the Founder of Connie Tao Designs in Pasadena, California. Connie has over 12 years of experience and specializes in creating handmade custom wedding dresses and evening gowns. She and her team also do alterations and redesigns to existing garments. Connie received her Bachelors Degree in Fashion Design from Otis College of Art and Design. This article has been viewed 765,951 times.
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Co-authors: 15
Updated: December 2, 2022
Views: 765,951
Categories: Sewing Skirts | Dresses and Skirts
Article SummaryX

To make a tutu skirt for someone, use a measuring tape to measure around their waist and from their waist to where the skirt should end. Cut a piece of elastic that is about 4 inches shorter than the waist measurement and glue the ends together to make an elastic circle. Next, cut strips of tulle that are twice as long as the desired length of the tutu, plus a little additional, since the tutu will seem shorter when the tulle fluffs out. Glue or knot the strips of tulle to the elastic until the entire band is covered with no gaps. For more tips, including how much tulle you should buy for your tutu, read on!

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