A simple tutu can be the base for many costume ideas and this easy skirt tutorial will have you quickly ready for even last-minute costume and Halloween parties! Learn how to make a no-sew tutu with this super quick and easy step by step tutorial. You read it right, there is no sewing involved – Yay!
Have you ever wondered how to make a tutu? A no-sew tutu couldn’t be more simple to make for little ones and it is a great handmade gift that encourages imaginative play. Package it up with a wand and a crown for a fun dress-up set. If you want another simple project try to make a headband out of an old t-shirt!
I don’t know about you, but I have a little girl who loves to play dress-up. When she plays dress-up her imagination blossoms to life. That’s why I enjoy creating DIY clothing like this DIY tutu skirt. It is the perfect play skirt. What’s best is that you can make them in any color, length, and even layer them.
You can make a tutu for a child or even an adult tutu easily. Just follow along with my step by step tutorial guide and you will have the cutest tutu for girls. Add a bit more tulle and you can make an easy tulle tutu for an adult! No sewing machine is needed!
What supplies do you need to make a DIY Tutu?
- Tulle (The local fabric stores carry various colors of tulle.)
- 1 elastic headband (I found the elastic headbands at the dollar store.)
- elastic cord (The local fabric or craft store carries elastic cord.)
- scissors
How many yards of tulle do you need to make a tutu?
Tulle Needed to make a child’s tutu
The amount of tulle can vary by how full you want the tutu to be. We used five yards of tulle for a child-size tutu and it worked great. If the tutu isn’t full enough you can always add more tulle.
tulle Needed to make a Tutu for an adult
Six yards of tulle should be enough to make tutu skirts for adults. You may need to use more tulle depending on the desired length, size, and fullness of the skirt you are making.
How To Make A No-Sew Tutu
Start by cutting strips of tulle. Cut the entire 5 yards of tulle into 4 or 5 inch wide strips. It doesn’t have to be perfect and the width of the strips can be varied. When you buy tulle it is folded once lengthwise on the bolt. Fold the tulle in half again lengthwise to make the cutting go quicker.
Open each strip up so it is folded in half one time like it was when it came off the bolt. Fold this strip again, finding the middle. You might skip the second fold if making for an adult.
Place the elastic headband on your upper thigh to make tying the strips of tulle onto the band easier. Place the middle of the strip that is folded in half under the elastic band.
Reach under and through the loop grasping the strip.Pull the tail through the loop.
This makes a slip knot, pull snug. Be careful tying tulle strips around the elastic band to not stretch out the band.
Continue tying all of the strips of tulle onto the waistband, trying to tie them evenly.
If the waist of the tutu needs to be adjusted, tie a knot in the elastic band.
TaDa! Now you have made a super simple tutu that is perfect for costumes and play! Don’t forget a wand and crown to make this tutu an extra special homemade gift. This tulle tutu is a great way to avoid the cost of boutique skirts and create your own special birthday outfit for any little girl. Coordinate the skirt to the birthday theme, and you will have a picture-perfect outfit!
This tutu will fit children from about 2-7 years. To make the tutu longer in length for older children, don’t fold the strip exactly in the middle, making one side longer.
Tips on How to Make a Tulle Skirt
- Child-size tutu skirt: Use an elastic headband for the waist. This way you don’t need to measure elastic. If you do not have an elastic headband you can use the elasticized cord. To cut the elastic cord to size wrap it around the child’s waist. Make sure it is snug. Leave a little bit to tie a knot. The excess allows you to resize as necessary to do this adjustment undo and move the knot.
- Adult-size tutu skirt: The elastic headband we used for the child-size tutu might not be large enough. To determine the length of elastic needed for an adult-sized tutu, wrap a piece of elastic around an adult waist. Tie the elastic in a knot so it fits snugly for the elastic waistband.
- Adult-size tutu skirt: Remove elastic and begin tying on the tulle strips. If you need a longer tutu don’t fold the tulle the second time before tying onto the elastic. This might make the tutu not as full, but it will give it more length. Just add more strips of tulle.
Alternate Technique for Waistbands
You can also use a ribbon for the waistband. This makes a very adjustable waistband. First, tie the ribbon around your waist and secure it with a bow. Next, while wearing the ribbon add the steps of tulle, shifting the ribbon around your waist as you go. Then simply untie and tie again to put the tutu on and take it off.
Check out these other ideas
Now that you know how to make a tutu you can make many different skirts including this darling witch costume! You can make this DIY no-sew Halloween costume in an evening. For this witch costume, we used rolls of tulle instead of the tulle on the bolt. We also used this same tutu tutorial to make a Wonder Woman costume.
We never can decide on what to be for Halloween until the very last minute. That’s why it’s good to know how to make this easy and versatile tutu. You don’t need to stick with just one color of tulle. Try mixing in some different colors throughout the same skirt.
You will be amazed at how quickly a tutu can be made. With a themed t-shirt and an easy tutu, you can easily fix just about any “I don’t have a costume” dilemma!
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How To Make A Tutu Skirt [No-Sew Tutorial]
Equipment
- Pair of Scissors
Ingredients
- 5 yards Tulle (Use 5 yards of tulle for a child-size tutu and at least 6 yards for an adult-size tutu.)
- 1 Elastic headband
- Elastic cord (Use the elastic cord when an elastic headband is not available.)
Instructions
- Start by cutting strips of tulle. Cut the entire 5 yards of tulle into 4 or 5 inch wide strips. It doesn't have to be perfect and the width of the strips can be varied. When you buy tulle it is folded once lengthwise on the bolt. Fold the tulle in half again lengthwise to make the cutting go quicker.
- Open each strip up so it is folded in half one time like it was when it came off the bolt. Fold this strip again, finding the middle. You might skip the second fold if making for an adult.
- Place the elastic headband on your upper thigh to make tying the strips of tulle onto the band easier. Place the middle of the strip that is folded in half under the elastic band.
- Reach under and through the loop grasping the strip.Pull the tail through the loop.
- This makes a slip knot, pull snug. Be careful tying tulle strips around the elastic band to not stretch out the band.
- Continue tying all of the strips evenly onto the elastic band.
- If the waist of the tutu needs to be adjusted, tie a knot in the elastic band.
- TaDa! Now you have made a super simple tutu that is perfect for costumes and play! Don't forget a wand and crown to make this tutu an extra special homemade gift. This tulle tutu is a great way to avoid the cost of boutique skirts and create your own special birthday outfit for any little girl. Coordinate the skirt to the birthday theme, and you will have a picture-perfect outfit!
Notes
- Child-size tutu skirt: Use an elastic headband for the waist. This way you don’t need to measure elastic. If you do not have an elastic headband you can use the elasticized cord. To cut the elastic cord to size wrap it around the child’s waist. Make sure it is snug. Leave a little bit to tie a knot. The excess allows you to resize as necessary to do this adjustment undo and move the knot.
- Adult-size tutu skirt: The elastic headband we used for the child-size tutu might not be large enough. To determine the length of elastic needed for an adult-sized tutu, wrap a piece of elastic around an adult waist. Tie the elastic in a knot so it fits snugly.
- Adult-size tutu skirt: Remove elastic and begin tying on the tulle strips. If you need a longer tutu don’t fold the tulle the second time before tying onto the elastic. This might make the tutu not as full, but it will give it more length. Just add more strips of tulle.
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Made 3 of these this morning with my two daughters and niece ages 4-7, they LOVE THEM 🙂 They’re about to put on a show! Oh to be a kid again! Thanks for this tutorial 🙂
This looks fun crafty and easy enough for a not so crafty person like myself. Also a great project for my Girl Scout troop…
Love this tutorial! – hope you don’t mind but I featured you in my Fun Day Monday blog entry for this week: http://www.victoriadalechildminding.co.uk/category/events/
Im 12 years old and addicted to home ec. Especially making clothes. I made like a whole BUNCH of these and brought them to a childrens hospital along with stuffed bears my big sister made for the boys. THEY LOVED THEM!!!!! I say this to all of you who worry that it will be hard to make!!!! ITS SO EASY THAT I, A TWELVE YEAR OLD LITTKE GIRL, CAN MAKE THEM IN A MINIMUM OF 5-7 MINUTES!!!!
Hi, I made one very similar, and have linked your tutorial to my post. Hope that is ok?
what a great tutorial! i wish i had seen this before i made my tutu .. the headband is an amazing idea. i hope you don’t mind that i linked back to this awesome idea in my tutu post: http://simplicity-interrupted.blogspot.com/2012/10/tutu-tu-torial.html
thank you for sharing this how-to!
Awesome idea. I’ve seen a ribbon used instead of headband to make adjustable
what length do you make your elastic do not have any children,but want to make a tutu to cellat craft shows. would really like your help on this. thank you ,theresa dearing
Merci pour ce tuto, ma fille adore!
Thanks for the no sew tutu tutorial my daugther loves it!
A bientôt
thank you so much for sharing. This will make a lot of little girls very happy. My daughter and I made one today. So easy and so much fun. Thank you again!
You guys should make them for teenagers too we also wear them…
I cannot wait to try this!! I do have a question though, which may be a dumb one 🙂 but to give the tutu a “layered” look with different colors, do i use 2 different color pieces of tulle and tie them onto the elastic as one piece?
Thought you might like to see what your tutorial inspired! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
http://sweetwaterstyle.blogspot.com/2012/02/easy-tutureally-no-sew.html
This is genius! Also gave me the idea to do this with regular fabric in school colors to wear over leggings for school spirit day! Thanks!