How to make a "Romantic" Tutu

Courtesy of my Mama!

These are the tutus that are worn in ballets such as Giselle - the long, floaty bell-shaped ones that come down past the knee.

You will need:
Ribbon

Measuring tape

Fine silk or nylon tulle

Snaps  

Thread

Sewing machine

Scissors

Needle

Fabric

Measure the waist and side length from waist to just below the knee.

Cut a piece of wide ribbon to the length of the waist measurement, plus 1 1/2 inches. Attach two snaps on each end, the ribbon should fit snugly but not too tightly around the waist.

Multiply the waist dimension by 3. This is the width of tulle you  need to gather to create sufficient fullness for this tutu

Cut enough tulle for the length of the waist to below-the-knee measurement to create three full layers.
Stitch each layer up the center back to within 6 inches of the top edge.

Run a gathering or basting stitch through all three layers and gather them to fit the ribbon waist band. You can run another basting stitch through the gathered layers to stabilize them before you stitch them to the waistband.

Top stitch the layers of tulle to the wrong side of the waist band, allowing for a small overlap at the center back closure.

Et voila, a Romantic Tutu! I will post the "Pancake" Tutu instructions in another post.

My Mama says a tip is to buy much more tulle that you think you will need - it will take a lot more than you think! This is, however, the cheapest way to have your own Tutu, and it also ensures the best fit - tailored just for you!



Callie xx