Flouncy Hand-Tied Tutus

Birdsong Bows
Flouncy Hand-Tied Tutus
By Deanna D. McCool
Table of Contents
I. Supplies .............................................................................................................................. 2
II. Sizing the waistband ........................................................................................................... 3
III. Cutting the tulle ................................................................................................................... 4
IV. Applying the tulle ................................................................................................................. 6
V. Tips and variations ............................................................................................................ 10
Congratulations on deciding to learn how to make simple, hand-tied tutus! Imagine your little one’s
thrill when you can make her a beautifully designed tutu. With just a bit of practice, you’ll be able to
move quickly through each step.
I highly recommend reading through this instruction manual first, before jumping in and buying
supplies or starting your project.
Thank you for purchasing these instructions! Please visit us at www.birdsongbows.com for more
tutorials and inspiration, and contact me through the website if you have questions!
Photos and text copyright Deanna D. McCool and Birdsong Bows 2010. All Rights Reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, shared or transmitted in any form without expressed written
permission of the author.
Special thanks to my husband, who helped with the photography and page layout for this manual!
~1~
I. Supplies
The following can be purchased at your local craft store, or through several different online retailers
(Fig. 1). In addition to big-box craft retailers (usually in the wedding supplies section), two reliable
sources to find 6”-wide tulle include the following sites:
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http://www.ribbonandbowsohmy.com
http://www.nashvillewraps.com
Fig. 1
You may want to purchase more supplies than I have listed here, but this amount will allow you to
create the lessons in this book!
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2 spools of 6”-wide tulle, 25 yards each
½-inch-wide (or thinner) no-roll elastic for waistband
Needle and white thread, (or sewing machine) to sew waistband
Scissors
Optional: Large piece of double-wall cardboard (like from a shipping box) or foam-core board
(size depends on length of tutu)
Optional: Binder clip
~2~
II. Sizing the waistband
1. If you’re creating this tutu for your little one,
measure her waist at the location where the
tutu will sit on her body.
2. Take this measurement and subtract 1 inch, or
slightly more if you need a more snug fit.
3. Cut the no-roll elastic to this new measurement.
For instance, if her waist measures 19 inches,
cut your elastic at 18.
Fig. 2
4. Form the elastic into a circle, and overlap each
edge by at least ½”. Sew this together using
either a sewing machine or a needle and thread
to secure it well (Fig. 2).
If you’re creating these tutus for sale or for gifts,
follow steps 2-4 above, using these general waist
sizes:
0-6 mo:10-13”
6-12 mo: 14-16”
12-24 mo: 16-18”
2-3 toddler: 18-20”
4-5 toddler: 20-22”
6-7 child: 22-24”
8-10 child: 24-25”
10-12 tween: 25”
~3~
III. Cutting the tulle
1. Measure the child from the waist down to
determine the length you would like to make the
tutu.
2. Double this measurement and add 2 inches to
determine the length you want to cut for each
piece of tulle. For example, if you would like the
tutu to measure 10 inches long, cut each piece
to 22 inches.
3. For a two-color tutu, cut between 20-40 pieces
of EACH color (Fig. 3). This will result in tutus
with between 40 and 80 pieces of tulle (the
number of pieces used will depend on the waist
size and your taste).
Fig. 3
Optional cutting tip:
You can cut each piece individually, but a faster
way is to create a cardboard or foam-core board
template that you’ll wrap your tulle around and then
cut all pieces at once.
1. Cut the board about 8-9 inches wide and as
long as your tulle strips need to be. For
example, if you need 30-inch strips, cut your
board to 8 inches wide by 30 inches long.
2. Secure the tulle, still attached to the roll, to one
end of the template with tape or a binder clip
(fasten the clip in a corner of the tulle so you
don’t wrap around it).
3. Wrap the tulle around the template half the
number of times for the number of pieces that
you want. Secure one end with the binder clip
(Fig. 4).
~4~
Fig. 4
4. Cut the tulle at each end of the template
(Fig. 5). To aid in the ease of cutting the side
with the clip, simply move the clip off to one
side as shown (Fig. 6).
Fig. 5
5. If you have a very long tutu and not enough
board length, you can make a template half the
size needed, and then cut at only one end
rather than both ends.
Fig. 6
If you’re creating these tutus for sale or for gifts,
you may use these average tutu lengths as a guide
(remember that for a 6-inch length for an infant,
you’ll be cutting 14-inch strips):
0-6 mo: 6-8”
6-12 mo: 8-12”
12-24 mo: 12-14”
2-3 toddler: 14-15”
4-5 toddler: 15-17”
6-7 child: 17-20”
8-10 child: 20”+
10-12 tween: 20”+
~5~
IV. Applying the tulle
The knot used for this tutu is a slipknot. It’s simple
and gives an elegant finish!
1. Take one piece of tulle and fold it in half
(Fig. 7).
2. Place this folded piece of tulle under your
elastic, holding the loop open (Fig. 8).
Fig. 7
3. Tuck your long tails through the loop (Fig. 9).
4. Pull this through part-way, and you’ll see how
you have an upper “loop” and the two segments
of tulle wrapped around the elastic (Fig. 10).
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
~6~
5. With one hand, tightly grasp the two segments
of tulle that are wrapped around the elastic.
Keep pinching this portion of the tulle while
pulling the tails. This is the easiest way to get a
nice, tight wrap around your elastic
(Figs. 11 and 12).
Fig. 11
6. Tip: don’t pull so tight that you stretch the
elastic -- pulling too tight will result in a tutu
that’s too big! If you want to get an even more
“dense” tutu, the best option is to use thinner
elastic.
Fig. 12
7. Admire your first wrap (Fig. 13).
Fig. 13
~7~
8. Take another strip of tulle and complete another
slipknot, but this time tie it in the opposite
direction (Fig. 14).
Fig. 14
9. Continue tying the strips until you’ve completely
covered the elastic (Fig. 15).
Fig. 15
10. Decide which side you want to be the “top” of
your tutu, and gently fold it over the top
(Fig. 16). Don’t re-arrange the direction of the
loops -- this method will give your tutu extra
volume!
Fig. 16
~8~
Optional embellishment:
1. For added flounce, you can apply pieces of tulle
to your layers. For a two-color tutu with different
colors in the bottom and top, add a small strip
of tulle of the bottom color to every other strip in
the top layer.
Fig. 17
2. Count the number of loops of tulle in your top
layer. Each loop makes two “strips” in your tutu,
but count the loops and not the strips.
3. Cut a 7” piece of tulle for each loop (Fig. 17).
Fig. 18
4. Using a regular overhand knot, tie one 7” piece
of tulle to every other strip in the top layer,
about 2-3 inches from the bottom of the strip
(Figs. 18 and 19).
Fig. 19
~9~
V. Tips and variations
1. Create different color combinations. For a two-color tutu that looks like strips of color, tie two of the
same color strips in opposite directions, and then two of the next color. Continue in this 2x2
variation all the way around the elastic.
2. Add more 7” embellishment ties to the strips, including the bottom layer.
3. Tie strips of satin or grosgrain ribbon onto the completed tutu for more whimsy.
4. Vary the length for different looks.
Enjoy making gorgeous, flouncy tutus!
~ 10 ~