How to Make a Tutu With a Ribbon Waist

Sewn Tutu

1). Measure the waist of the person who will wear the tutu and cut a length of ribbon three times as long.
2). Cut a length of tulle as wide as the tutu will be from waist to outer edge, and long enough to tightly gather the tulle. A good rule of thumb is 1 yard of tulle for every 12 inches in waist length.
3). Thread a needle with a long length of thread and tie a knot at the end. Use a running stitch across the top of the tulle length, i.e., the edge that will attach to the ribbon. In other words, weave the needle and thread in and out of the tulle, straight across the entire top edge of the tulle.
4). Gather the tulle by holding the end of the thread that is attached to the needle, as opposed to the knotted end, and sliding the tulle back toward the knotted end of the thread. Gather the tulle until the gathered length is the same length as the waist length. Knot the needle end of the thread to keep the tulle from un-gathering. Remove the needle.
5). Stitch the gathered tulle to the bottom edge of the ribbon length so there are equal lengths of ribbon on either side of the tulle.
6). Don the tutu by tying the ribbon tightly around the waist.

1). Measure the waist of the tutu wearer and cut a length of ribbon three times as long as the waist length.
2). Decide how long to make the tutu and cut a length of tulle to twice that length.
3). Cut the tulle into 1-inch-wide strips. Cut two to three strips for every inch of waist length.
4). Fold one strip of tulle in half and lay the ribbon on top of the folded end. Pull the unfolded ends of the tulle strip over the ribbon and through the loop made by the folded end. Tighten.
5). Continue looping the strips of tulle over the ribbon and pushing them together until the tulle strips tightly cover the center third of the ribbon length. Don the tutu by tying the ribbon tightly around the waist.