Directions for a Tutu With a Satin Ribbon Waist

Make your own satin band tutu with almost no sewing.

Commonly worn by ballerinas, tutus are fun for dress-up as well as a dance accessory. Tutus come in a number of lengths and styles. Adding a satin waistband to a tutu gives it a finished look. If you want one for a Halloween costume, dance recital or for your little princess to play dress up, make your own. Homemade tutus give you control over the size and color and are less expensive than boutique versions.

Things You'll Need

• Flexible measuring tape
• 1/2-inch elastic
• Sewing machine
• Tulle
• Scissors
• 1-inch satin ribbon

Instructions

1. Determine your waist measurement using a flexible measuring tape. Cut a piece of half-inch elastic for the waistband that is two inches shorter than the waist measurement.

2. Fold the elastic strip in half. Sew across the width of the elastic band using a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. Place the stitch one-quarter inch in from the edge to create an elastic loop. Place the loop around a chair back or other steady surface.

3. Cut 1 1/2-inch wide pieces of tulle in the color you want the tutu. Make the length two times the length you want for the finished tutu. You need one strip for every inch of the elastic waistband.

4. Fold a tulle strip in half. Hold the folded end that creates a loop upward. Insert the looped end of the tulle behind the elastic that you wrapped around the chair back with the loop upward and loose ends hanging down.

5. Bring the tulle loop over the front of the elastic waistband so that the loop hangs down two inches. Position the loop in front of the elastic pointing down and the loose ends hanging down behind the elastic.

6. Pull the loose ends through the tulle loop. Adjust the loop so that the tulle is tightly wrapped around the elastic band.

7. Repeat Steps 5 through 7 with the remaining pieces of tulle. Keep the pieces close together. Once they are all attached to the elastic, adjust the placement of the tulle to ensure the entire elastic band is covered and the tulle pieces are evenly spaced.

8. Cut a piece of one-inch satin ribbon in a coordinating color. Make the length two and a half times your waist measurement.

9. Feed one of loose ends of the ribbon behind the elastic band of the tutu. Feed it from the bottom and out the top. Pull the ribbon through until you have a 12-inch tail remaining.

10. Wrap the longer end of the ribbon around the elastic band of the tutu. Bring the ribbon around the front, covering one of the strips of tulle on top of the tutu. Bring the loose end under the elastic band, feeding it between two pieces of tulle. Bring it around the back of the elastic band and over the top again. Wrap the entire band with the ribbon.

11. Tie the loose ends of the ribbon together in a bow once the entire band is wrapped with the ribbon. Trim the ends of the ribbon to achieve the desired length.

References

• One Thousand Tutus: Home Page
• Craftzine: How To Sew a Sparkle Tutu