tutu tulle troubles ?

On the Butterick website, it lists 6.25 yds of 72" tulle for skirt H.

Given what you bought, I would make sure the ends of the tulle were cut straight, then cut it in half so you have 2 54" wide, 112.5" long pieces. The length won't be exactly that but it won't matter.

Cut these strips into thirds lengthwise. You will now have 6 pieces that are about 18" wide and 112 " long.

If the skirt was supposed to be 5 layers, you will have 1 extra strip. If you want a 3 layer skirt, you can make 2.

Each strip is a "Front and Back" piece, the middle of the strip is the center front and the ends of the strip are sewn together to form the center back.

Your strips are long, so you will need to be careful follow along their length to make sure you don't sew the center back seam in with a twist in the fabric.

After you sew each center back seam separately, you will put the layers together matching the center backs, then treat them as one.

--Betsy

This indicates that the FOLD line goes against the fold of the fabric, which you have folded in half across the width, giving a double layered rectangle just a tad over 3 yards long... The other open end of the rectrangle will be sewn as the seam.

No that's about right for this skirt. You'll end up with three layers of tulle, all 17" from waistband to hem and with a hem circumference of

220 or so inches. You leave an opening at the top edge of all three layers, and gather the three up (probably together: just put them inside each other so you have a single piece 220" in circumference and three layers thick, with the back openings aligned), put the gathering stitched in round the top, gather it all up, and your lass will have a wonderfully light, full and puffy ballet skirt.

A dinnerplate style tutu for an adult would take four or five times this yardage! Tulle squshes up into a tiny space.

The long strip is both front and back: the seam is at the center back, the fold the center front.

Without the pix I'm not sure. I'd do a plain open seam, stitched twice, and trim the seam allowances down to about 1/4". You stitch it twice becaue tulle is a pain and the seam needs to be secure. On the other hand, it doen't fray so there's no need to neaten raw edges or hems.

Just make a seam up the back!

Yup, as above. Sew each back seam separately, *then* stack and gather the waist.

The person writing the distructions is very rarely the one who made the test garment.

I hope this helps.

Oops, I wasn't thinking clearly. You don't want to cut it in half because you really do want the strips to be almost 6.25 yards long. If you really have bought the 54" wide fabric, it will give you a three layer skirt.

--Betsy

....

So the basic idea of a tutu is just multiple layers of tulle, gathered at the waist? (_Very_ gathered, if we're talking about 220 in -> O(10 in.) for a 3-year-old's waist) _That_ doesn't sound so complicated (a real PITA, but not complicated.)

I once tried to find instructions for making a tutu online, and it sounded much more complicated and was impossible to understand. I decided it must be one of those arcane things that is only explained to those who have undergone the special secret initiation rites at the full moon and learned the secret handshake, or something.

I also had the impression that Official Ballet Tutus must use something different from the usual tulle you get at your local home sewist's fabric shop. Something stiffer, at any rate.

Yup! :D

If you want to see how it's done, this is the best information:

Books, not on-line intructions.

Dress net. I think in the USA it's sometimes refered to as 'crinoline'? And the layers start at the bottom as very small ruffles and get wider as you go up. They are sewn onto panties made from English Net (which is cotton), in 10 or 12 bands, the layers are then basted together and stiffened with wire. Then there is a basque part that forms a yoke from waist to hip with a skirt section on it, and this carries all the decoration. Over that you wear a boned and decorated bodice, and the two fix together at the yoke/hip line with hooks and hand worked loops. It does up at the back with hooks and eyes. Zipz are not strong enough for the stresses of dancing.

yep yep again. :) If they're just play or costume (not for a ballet) that's all there is to it.

We might could tell you, but then......well you know. ;)

Crinoline usually refers to the slip type undergarment that adds a lot of body to the skirt of what it's worn under. Either the totally separate kind like you can buy in a bridal store, or the built in type. Layers of netting or tulle, sometimes topped with a layer of taffeta.

I think what you call dress net is just netting over here. So far as I know anyway. ;) Although there is "illusion." That seems to be halfway between tulle and heavy weight nylon netting. I think that started out as a brand name and now everyone just tosses that name around to refer to that type of fabric....like "kleenex." Illusion most of the time has sparkles in it too.

Sharon

[trim lots useful info from Betsy]

Thanks Betsy, For all the useful comments and instructions. I appreciate your time and help.

Posts of pics soon to follow.

robb

[trim useful help from Kate]

Thanks Kate,

For all the helpful instructions I do appreciate your help

I hope to have some pics posted soon.

robb

Here are the pics of tutu and leotard.

The leotard was made from a repurposed silky soft addidas cotton/poly/lycra XL long sleeve athletic shirt purchased off clearance rack at an outlet store ($3). The front and rear leotard pieces were cut from the long sleeves and almost enough left over in the shirt sleeves to cut some short sleeves for leotard 8)

Not great, you'll see the mistakes but it is for play/fun so i was not being too particular. I ended up making folds/pleats instead of gathers as i still have a hard time taming gathers for sewing.

thanks to everyone for the help

robb

have

sorry for double post. i should have changed the header to indicate the pics posted.

Someone is going to have lots of fun dressing up in that - ballet dancer, princess, cinderella etc etc.

Nice job, you may see the mistakes, but the recipient won't.

Have a good Christmas

Lizzy

Fun! And dead cute! Swan Lake next? ;)

Robb, Terrific job. I made tutus years ago for a pair of DGDS and they were fun. I always saw the mistakes. but those 2 little girls never did. .They still remind of the time I made them tutus and how they wore them forever. The are now 23 and 20. Little girls love things like that.Big girls love having the memories. Juno

Nice work, it will provide lots of fun. Sometimes it seems like my little girls live in tutus.

--Betsy

That's very cute, Robb, I know the recipient will LOVE it!

When you make the next one, here's another way cute idea: double the fabric *lengthwise* of the skirt (don't cut the fold), then fold it on the "hem" line. Before adding gathering stitches throw handfuls of loose silk rose petals in all around the hem (you can find them in the bridal area of craft shops). I made one like that for DGD about 10 years ago, she twirled for weeks. ;-)

That's okay about the double post. You did a terrific job, with very minor mistakes that are hard to detect. I know the little girl is thrilled beyond words to have such an outfit, made with so much love. May she have a wonderful time playing in it.

A Most Joyous Christmas and Wonderful New Year to you and yours.

-- Emily

I think that came out cute as can be. Great job on the repurposing. :) And the tutu is cute as can be. She will have a great time dancing around the house in that. :)

Sharon