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Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts

Friday, January 6, 2012

Tutu Tutorial

With these instructions you will be able to make a very lovely tutu for anyone of any age. Even the beginner can make something to be proud of. No sewing machine required!

Supplies

about 4 yards of tulle in color of choice
{get a few different colors for a real cool effect!}
1 inch wide elastic (enough to go around the waist of the person the tutu is for)
Scissors
Ruler
Sewing Machine (optional)

Step 1

Measure around the waist of the person the tutu is for. Add 1 inch and cut the elastic to that size. Over lap the two ends together (about 1/2 inch) and sew them in place either by hand or with a sewing machine. Make sure the elastic is not twisted. Sew over it several times to ensure that it will not come apart.



Step 2

Cut the tulle into strips. I recommend cutting them 5 inches wide by 24 inches long. The finished tutu will be a little less than 12 inches long. Adjust the length as desired. Just remember to double it when cutting. Example: If you want your tutu to be about 10 inches long, then cut the strips 20 inches long by 5 inches wide.
Tip: Tulle is much easier to cut when it is folded into a strip.


Step 3

a. Fold one piece of the tulle in half. Hold one end in each hand. Put it through the middle of the elastic and hold it with your first two fingers like the picture.





b. Grab the two long ends of the tulle with your two fingers and pull it through the loop. Tighten it around the elastic.


c. When tightening the tulle the elastic will be squished together. This is okay. It creates the look of a round waistband when the tutu is finished. The elastic will twist as you keep adding strips of tulle. This is okay as well. It does not matter which side, top or bottom, the tulle is put on...just be consistent.

The right side of the tutu will look like this picture....


The underside of the tutu will look like this picture....


d. Continue adding the strips of tulle until you have gone all the way around the elastic, making sure the tulle is close together. Adjust the strips as necessary and fill in any gaps with more strips of tulle.

Your finished tutu will look like this...


Add some style!

Want a more unique Tutu? Alternate two or more different colors of tulle as you put the strips on.

To add a little flair to your tutu, tie a bow with a piece of matching satin ribbon and sew it onto the tutu. Or tie long pieces of satin ribbon around the waistband.


That’s all.
Congratulations! You did it!
These are my instructions on how to make tutus. You may do as you wish with the tutus you make but please do not copy these instructions or pictures for any reason.
Copyright November 2011 by Jen Smith, All Rights Reserved.

Friday, November 4, 2011

You know you've lost it when....

... you start making your own bias tape, and actually enjoy it!


I've been making these reusable toy bags found at Zaaberry for my kids and was needing bias tape to make them. I didn't have the right colors to do it so I followed the tutorial at Prudent Baby and made my own. I have since been trying to come up with things that need bias tape to make. Little crazy? Yes! But homemade bias tape is so much cooler than store bought bias tape. You can use any fabric you want and make them so fun!

Anyone have any ideas for projects to use bias tape with? I'd love to know!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Pinkalicious

I think everyone has read that super fun book, "Pinkalicious." My girls own almost every book in the series... Pinkalicious, Purplelicious, Goldalicious, and now Silverlicious. We love her! I found out that there is a "Pinkalicious the Musical" and they will be in our area in a few months. Of course I had to buy tickets for me and my girls to go see her! They will be getting them for Christmas along with their very own Pinkalicious doll handmade by mom. {I hope these girls appreciate everything I do for them!} I've finished one of them. She is the most precious thing ever! I want to squeeze her all day!

I got the pattern for her in this awesome book "Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love" by Hillary Lang. It's got lots of cute stuffed dolls! The instructions are pretty easy to follow and the doll didn't take too long to make. I'll be making a couple more of them into Pinkalicious looking dolls very soon!