How to Use Elastic for a Tutu

Make a puffy tutu for an aspiring little ballerina.

Make an elastic waistband tutu as a fashion accessory for a little ballerina or an enchanted fairy princess. The elastic waist will help keep the skirt on when she is small, and it also lets her continue to enjoy the skirt for years, because it will expand as she grows. You can make a frilly tutu skirt from strips of tulle ribbon, or you can make a colorful flowing tutu skirt with strips of different patterned and colored grosgrain or satin ribbon.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing tape measure
• 3/4-inch-wide elastic
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• 6-inch-wide tulle ribbon; alternatively, satin or grosgrain ribbon of different widths

Instructions

Tulle Tutu Skirt

1. Measure the child's waist circumference for the elastic waistband. Cut a piece of elastic that is equal to the circumference minus about 1 inch.

2. Join the short ends of the elastic together and sew back and forth along the ends a few times to keep a tight joint.

3. Cut the tulle for the tutu skirt. Make the strips of tulle 24 inches long for a 12-inch-long tutu or 36 inches long for an 18-inch-long tutu.

4. Fold one tulle strip in half and tie the strip in a knot over the elastic waistband. Fold another strip in half and tie it in a knot on the elastic band, next to the first tulle knot.

5. Continue tying strips along the elastic waistband, pushing the knots tightly together to fill the elastic as much as possible.

Ribbon Tutu Skirt

1. Measure the child's waist circumference. Cut a piece of 3/4-inch-wide elastic to the circumference length, minus about 1 inch.

2. Fold the elastic in half and sew the two short ends together. Reinforce the joint with a few rows of stitching.

3. Cut ribbons of different widths for the skirt. Cut each piece to a length of 24 inches for a 12-inch-long tutu or 36 inches for an 18-inch-long tutu.

4. Fold one strip of ribbon in half and make a loop of the folded section. Hold the folded section behind the elastic band and wrap the ends of the ribbon up over top of the elastic band and through the loop to make a slipknot. Pull tightly.

5. Repeat the above step with each piece of ribbon until the tutu is completely full without becoming stretched.

References

• "Make Your Own Twirly Tutu"; Klutz Press; 2006
• Make Them Yourself: Free Directions for Making a No-Sew Tutu