How to Make a Petal-Filled Tutu
A tutu is a very short, full ballerina skirt made from multiple layers of sheer fabric. Tulle is soft, fine netting that needs no edge finish. You can make a petal-filled tutu easily at home from tulle. Choose tulle from a bolt of fabric rather the 6-inch wide rolled variety, as you will need the full width of the wider tulle to create the petal-filled tutu skirt. Ask a clerk for help at the fabric store if you are unsure of which type to buy.
Things You'll Need
- Tulle (from the bolt)
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Silk flower petals
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- 3/4 inch elastic
- Large safety pin
- Satin ribbon (optional)
Instructions
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1
Measure your child's waist and multiply the waist measurement by three. Cut a length of tulle to this measurement.
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2
Unfold the tulle and lay it flat. Lift up one cut end of the tulle and align it evenly with the other cut end. Pin the two pieces together.
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3
Sew a 1/2-inch seam along the pinned edge, stitching the cut edges together to form a large tube. Remove the pins as you go. Trim the seam.
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4
Lay the tube on a flat surface and flip the bottom edge of the tulle up to meet the top edge all the way around the tube, with the seam allowance on the inside. You will now have a tube with two layers of tulle and a fold along the edge closest to you. Align the edges and smooth the fabric.
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5
Flip the folded edge up to meet the raw edge all the way around the tube. You will now have four layers of tulle: two with folds one inside the other on the edge closest to you, and one fold and two raw edges on the edge farthest from you.
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6
Pin through all four layers one inch from the fold on the edge with two folds. Sew around the top of the tutu, one inch from the folded edge to make a casing, stopping six inches before where you began stitching.
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7
Reach between the open layers of tulle to the opening in the casing seam. Push petals between the open layers into the folded layers through the yet-to-be-sewn casing area. Add the number of petals desired and distribute evenly.
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8
Cut a piece of elastic 1 inch larger than your child's waist measurement. Poke the point of a large safety pin through one end of elastic and close the safety pin.
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9
Put the safety pin with the elastic attached between the layers of tulle. Guide the elastic to the unstitched area along the fold and push the safety pin into the casing. Hold the lose end of the elastic and work the safety pin through the casing until it comes out the other end.
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10
Remove the safety pin and overlap the ends of the elastic 1/2-inch. Sew the ends of the elastic together. Sew across the unstitched area to complete the casing; being sure not to catch the elastic in the stitching.
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11
Tie a bow from satin ribbon and sew it to the front of the tutu at the waist if desired. Alternatively, attach the bow with a safety pin.
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References
- Photo Credit flower petals image by Faith Ashurst from Fotolia.com
