Easy and Inexpensive DIY Tutus

Easy and Inexpensive DIY Tutus

Am I the last one to realize how easy it is to make a tutu? Tutus are adorable, but I don’t always like the gigantic ones you see in stores…or the price tag that goes with them. I knew I wanted a tutu for my little ladybug’s Halloween costume, but I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted anywhere. Then I realized how easy it is to make one! Here are four easy steps to creating a tutu that will complete any costume, add style to any dress-up trunk, or make any regular lil’ outfit a little more fancy.

Supplies:

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I chose the shimmery tulle. I like a little sparkle but can’t handle being attacked by glitter.

1 roll of tulle per color (At Hobby Lobby, these can be found on that wall of sewing stuff at the edge of the fabric department.)
TIP: Tall rolls give you more volume; short rolls are easier to attach, but you might end up doing two layers. Pay attention to the type of tulle you choose: matte is good, shimmer adds a little sparkle, and glitter comes with a free glitter bomb!)

1 super-stretchy knit headband (At Hobby Lobby, these can be found near the jewelry-making and “wearable art” aisle.)

Scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Count the number of holes on the bottom row of your headband. This will tell you how many strips of tulle to cut.

Step 2: Cut the tulle into strips. To decide how long to make each strip, measure from the waist (where the waistband of your tutu will sit) to how long you want it to be, and then double it. I wanted my tutu to be a little more than 8 inches long, so I cut 17-inch strips in an equal number of red and black.

TIP: I used a rotary cutting mat (left over from that winter when I picked up quilting as another short-lived hobby) to help measure. Don’t worry about being precise with your cuts! Eyeballing it is fine.

Step 3: Attach the tulle strips to the headband. Fold the first strip of tulle in half. Push the folded end through a hole on the bottom row of the headband, far enough that you can open up the loop. Now pull the ends of the strip through the loop and loosely tighten. Continue attaching the rest of the tulle strips around the headband. Be careful not to skip any holes! I alternated red and black strips.

TIP: Pushing the looped end of each strip through the front of the headband (instead of up through the back) will make consistent, nicer-looking knots (if you’re slightly OCD like me).

tutu strips

Step 4: Try it on! When I had my baby girl try on the finished product I realized it wasn’t quite fluffy enough, so I went back and added another partial layer around the tutu.

tutu layers

Altogether, this tutu cost about $8, with enough tulle left over to make several more. It would be fun to have a tutu-making party so you could have lots of color options, split the cost of the tulle, and not have a ton of tulle left over. The entire process took less than an hour, including adding the second layer. I’m envisioning many more tutus to brighten up this holiday and football season!

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Our sassy little ladybug, who likes unrolling tulle much more than sitting still for Mommy’s pictures.
Katie
Katie shares her passion for reading and learning as an elementary school librarian. She is a San Antonio transplant who loves traveling, reading, and encouraging her hubby’s new-found talents in BBQ. Her favorite time of year is a toss-up between summer for traveling and fall for college football (Roll Tide!). After six wonderful years of marriage, Katie and Jason welcomed their daughter in December of 2013! Although the journey to motherhood hasn’t been an easy one, she is thankful for the lessons in how important her faith, family, and friends truly are in life.