No Sew Tutu Skirt - a tutorial

The first Tutu skirt I made was for my daughter's first birthday. She wore it for her cake smash and looked very cute in her Tutu.

Wikipedia definition of a tutu skirt is 'A tutu is a skirt worn as a costume in a ballet performance, often with attached bodice. It consists of a Basque (or waistband, as it can either be part of the bodice or a separate band) and the skirt itself might be single layer, hanging down, or multiple layers starched and jutting out.'

Tutu skirts are really pretty, but it is difficult to get one with super lush in the normal stores. I prefer one with multiple layers of fabric. Etsy do have many shops that sell good quality Tutu skirts.

Tutu is usually made using tulle fabric. Tulle is a light weight very fine netting fabric. It is mostly stiff and gives Tutu skirt a puffed out look.

Supplies needed

1. Scissors
2. Tulle fabric in colors of choice - I used bright pink and light pink tulle( comes in 6" wide spool or bolt which can be cut to strips) I used tulle from bolt and 1 yard each of both colors.
3. Net headband (Normal elastic can also be used)

How To

1. Cut tulle to strips. Length of each strip = Length of the finished skirt  * 2 + 1.5". I wanted mine to be 7" long, so I cut strips 7*2+1.5 = 15.5 " long. I eyeballed the width of the strips, but a 3" would be perfect.
2. Stretch the headband such that the holes in it are visible. I put the headband over my daughter's toy stroller. The width was perfect to keep the headband stretched so that I could work comfortably.

3. Count the tulle strips and the holes in the headband and find out how many strips should go in each hole. I had around 90 tulle strips and my headband had 30 holes. So 3 strips went in each hole. Take the tulle strips and fold in half.

4. Take the center portion and insert it through the hole in the headband from behind.

5. Pull out the ends through the loop created.

6. Pull the end slowly and tighten it so that it will not unwind. You will have to be careful as the headband elastic is very delicate and can break if you pull on the ends too strong.(Speaking from experience)

7. Do the same with the next hole. I followed a sequence of 2 dark pink & 1 light pink and 2 light pink & 1 dark pink strips alternately.

8. Repeat this until the all the holes in the headband are done.

Here is my daughter's doll modelling the completed Tutu skirt.

Two of my friends had a baby shower this past weekend and both of them are expecting girls. So I made one each for both of them.

By choosing different colors and length of the skirt, this can be used for different occasions. Using shades of blue and green can make this a peacock costume for Halloween. Red and black tulle can be used for a Mickey/Minnie mouse costume. The possibilities are endless and I would definitely be making some more in near future.