Hullo, darlings. I know it’s been forever, but I have fantastic news…
I present to you a hand-finished, runway ready tutorial on how to sew a gorgeous and fluffy Degas-style (classical) ballerina tutu. Like the one that can be found in my shop:
Click on photo to customize this tutu in the Anjou Etsy shop (photographer: Sabrina Cichy, Model: Lotte Groeneweg)
Complete with many uhs, ums, random eyebrow raises, leaping kittens, lawnmower sounds, and minutes of pointless musings (as well as some cold hard facts on tutu construction). Learn, create, and enjoy!
Bisous.
Just watched your tutorial and LOVED it – Thank you so much, this is the information I’ve been searching for as I dislike (hate) those tied tulle skirts and have been wanting to make my daughter some lovely classic tutus. Are you willing to share any more details on the wider waistband style seen on the skirts you sell? the folded waistband is clearly fairly easy to do, but the wider waistband on your skirts is amazingly lovely.
thanks again!
Yay, I’m so happy you liked it! Oh gosh, I very much dislike those tied ones as well…maybe for a quick fix on Halloween, but I’m so glad you’re making the traditional ones! They’re time-consuming, but sooooo worth it :) I would absolutely share! I learned it from a vintage waistband technique, so maybe I’ll just post the instructions from there…I feel like a video might be a little difficult to follow. I’ll keep ya posted! Thanks again!
Hi! Those romantics tutus are so lovely! But I have a question… how can I close it (like a “normal” skirt) on the side?
Sorry for my bad english!
Thanks ! ^^
oh. my. god.
this is amazing. if only i was more skilled and less of a disaster, i would 100% make myself a tutu.
p.s: you’re so cute and awkward, it’s wonderful! :)
haha, really really awkward. In real life as well ;) Ah, you should do it! A disaster with tulle can only translate into avant garde ;)
YES! So glad I found this! Youre so sweet, keep posting your awesomeness! :) Almost gave up finding tutorials for classical tutus, imagine how close I was to making a baste-waist eyeball-kind of trainwreck. THANK YOU! :)
I’m so happy that I found you. I’m making tutu for my flower girls and I really don’t have much of time but I’m good with the sewing machin so… I think it’s gonna be okay! I don’t like the “No sew tutu” they look very cheap! Your tutorial is really good and as you can see my first language is not english and I fully understand everything :)!!! SO THANKS A LOT!!! I’m gonna make the sash with the left over of my wedding dress, hope the bow will be nice!
Thank you for your awesome tutorial. I looked high and low for a tutorial that would allow me to make my own tutu for my Halloween costume. I just could not bare the idea of the no-sew ties ones or the store brought where my backside was showing. Now I can feel confident I will not be giving anyone a peep show. *Sigh* now if I could only stand on my tiptoes like a real ballerina.
Hooray, I’m so glad you like it and can follow it! The no-sew ones and the ones that aren’t stitched up the back are very scary, indeed, haha. Oooh, don’t I wish as well – I’ve always loved pointe shoes…I suppose we can just hand them on our walls and imagine ;) (and try them on and pretend from time to time)
Love your tutu there the best I haven’t seen one so good that I like but when I saw the video on how to make it….it my favorite one:)…but I had a question on how much yard of tulle I have to cause that the only part I’m having trouble in cause my waist is 33….and I was wondering if you can help me!!!!!:)than you!
Hiya! Awesome, thanks so much! You can just multiply your waist measurement by 4 and use that yardage (in inches) for gathering at the waist (or more, if you’d like it more poufy). Let me know if you have any more questions, and good luck to you! Happy tutu-ing!
Thanks!
This tutorial was amazing! :) i’m hoping to make this for a textile project
Just wondering, because it’s tied using ribbon, does that mean there’s no closure? as in no center back seam or anything? and if i wanted to add a lining, how can i do that? (i saw one of your dresses with it and it looked great :) Thanks!
Hiya, thanks so much! You can stitch the skirt up 3/4 of the way and then there will just be a small opening that can be covered with the excess ribbon/bow. If you find a vintage slip, you can just sew it to the tulle before attaching the ribbon. Thanks!!! :)
Love, Love, LOVE your tututorial! I have looked high and low and everywhere in between and not been able to find something as comprehensive or a tutu as beautiful! Thank you, thank you, thankyou! Can’t wait to get on my Halloween Costumes and who knows what else! ;) Thank you again and you are absolutely adorable! ;)
Aw yay!!! Thank you so much! :D You are making me smile big time. I’m so happy that you found it helpful and that you’re going to be crafting some purdy tutus. Happy sewing and twirling!!
Ahhhhh!!!! This is amazing and so much easier the way you explain it than anywhere else, and I’ve spent *forever* trying to find a good tutorial for a gorgeous long tulle skirt! Thank you SO much!!
Hi i am fourteen and i am a choreographer I have four to six dancers who will be performing at the end of December. I live in Florida and was wondering if you could make some skirts for me. Also if you can how much would it cost to get the job done before Christmas. And have them sent to Florida. (you’ve said that you live in L.A.)
Thank You
Hi, I’m so sorry for the late response! Though I would have absolutely loved to make skirts for you, I have been slammed this holiday season with custom skirt orders. I hope you found the perfect skirts and please don’t hesitate to contact me at anjouclothing@gmail.com if you need anything or have any questions! Thanks!
Hi, thank you so much for the lovely tutu idea! Think I will be making myself one in cream and pairing it with a pale pink 1950′s petticoat for my wedding. I was wondering if you think I could make the pleating process quicker and easier by doing a running stitch along the top of the tulle and then pulling it tight to create the same pleated effect?
Thank you again for sharing the lovely idea, Beccy xx
Hi Beccy! You can, it just won’t have exactly the same effect – the result will look gathered instead of pleated, but should still work in a pinch! Best of luck to you and congrats on your wedding! The palette sounds dreamy! xoxo
I loved the tutorial and I love the finished tutu even more! Now I want to make one in every color. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I am a senior in high school and have a couple dressy events coming up that I wanted a tutu skirt for. I am tall so I am going to make it longer (I believe I can still do the same thing with just a longer length). One question I had though, I’m assuming you can just stitch up the back 3/4 of the way, but I was wondering what the easiest way to do that and how exactly would I stitch the it up? I am a beginning sewer when it comes to clothes, but I’ve sewn lots of other stuff, so a little guidance would be GREATLY appreciated. Once again, thank you so much for this tutorial. I am so happy I can make one myself! You’re the greatest!
your ballerina tutu tutorial cuts off…where can I get full tutorial?
There are two parts to the tutorial, if you go to my channel, you can find part 2
Sent from my iPhone
where is your channel, desperately looking for second half of your excellent tutorial, making a dress for my niece. ta
Hi! Oh how fun! Here it is, love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7RksXK8EdU Happy tutu-making <3
THANK YOU!!
This might be a complete newbie question, but why do you do both a running stitch and a basting stitch? I was looking on youtube and they look they are essentially the same thing (one video I was watching called the basting stitch a “large version of the running stitch”)
Thank you so much! Lovely tutorial, I want to sew a tutu once my sewing skills get better.
Hi! A running stitch has a smaller stitch length so that it stays in place. It is a permanent stitch. A basting stitch is a straight stitch set to the widest stitch length so that you can gather along it. It is a temporary stitch that will be removed or hidden inside the seam. Thanks! Best of luck! <3 Anjou
Sent from my iPhone
I love your tutorial! I have a question – what do you do after you pleat and sew each of the 6 pieces of tulle! arrrgh! I can’t figure it out myself. Is there another video I missed? Help! I assume you stitch all of the layers together, but I have no clue how to put the satin ribbon on.
ok, so i love your tutu and am inspired to make one myself, though i have had no experience and need that style tutu for a year 10 art project. So do u recommend for my group and i to make this tutu? Is there any eaiser ways to make the tutu but still have the look? Also can u hand stich the last bit in part 1 or do u have to use a sewing machine? Thank you :)