As we saw last week, for my niece’s first birthday, I was inspired by her rainbow theme and color-themed picture-book present to make a collection of stuffed toys for playing along with to the pages.

When my favorite muffin turned two, I was totally at a loss for ideas. Everything seemed too big, too hard, too disconnected, and too… not right. Fortunately at two, one has developed a bit more personality, and for reasons known only to the universe and whispered in the ears of fairies, my niece has decided she LOVES to dance. I decided to make her a playlist of great dancing tunes, and a collection of rainbow tutus so she can twirl and whirl away.

I only meant to make two or three, but there were so many fabric options at the store, and the tutus were so quick to make and required so little fabric, I ended up making seven of them.

What can I say; I might spoil her a bit.

How-to: Children’s Tutus

Supplies:
Sewing machine
1 ¼ yards tulle or net, 54” wide
¼-1/3 yard special occasion fabric (lame, chiffon, satin, sequined, etc), 43-44” wide
18” ¼-3/4” wide braided flat elastic, may need more/less depending on child’s measurements
Coordinating thread
Heavy safety pin
Optional: 1 ¼-1 ½ yards double fold bias tape in coordinating color (see step 5)

1. Determine the size of your tutu:   I based the size of my tutus off of a pair of toddler leggings. I determined the waist size by taking the flat width of the leggings (9″) and doubling it. I will need 18″ of elastic for the waist. I determined the length be figuring out that my niece is about 32″ tall, and that I wanted the tutus to be a little long so that she would be able to wear them for a while. One fourth her height will hit at about the knees, and one fourth of 32″ is 8″, plus adding approximately 3″ extra for hems and the placement of the elastic, and I will need an 11-12″ width of each layer of fabric.
   
2. Purchase fabric by need:   Based on my measurements, I will need 11-12″ of each layer, or 1/3 of a yard. I would like 4 layers for the underskirt and 1 layer of “fancy” fabric, which means I will need 1 1/4 yards of tulle or net (1 1/4 yards = 45″, 4×11.5″ = 45″). I will need 18″ of elastic per skirt.
3. Make the underskirt:   First, true up the edges of your tulle (make as straight as possible) as we are not hemming the long edges and they will show. Then, cut your tulle in half parallel to the width of the fabric. You should have two pieces that are 22.5″ by 54.”
   
   Match the two short sides together to create a tube and fold 1/4″ over itself 2-3 times, to enclose the raw edge, and pin. This will create a thicker layer of material and make it easier to sew. Sew a straight stitch down each of your two tubes to finish the seam.
   
   Trim any loose threads and the layer the tubes one inside of the other. With the seams next to but not on top of each other and facing out, fold the tubes in half so that all 4 long edges point down and the seams are now on the inside.
   
   With the fold point up and the open side of your skirt pointing down, pin the folded side at 4 points equal distances apart to keep the layers together and create a guide for your gather. Run a basting stitch by hand along the folded edge about 1/4 inch from the edge to continue to hold the layers together and the help with the gathering.
   
4. Make the top skirt:   True up your top skirt piece to enable you to make an even hem. Make a French seam along the short side – match the two short sides together, with the right sides facing out (wrong sides together), and make a scant 1/4″ seam; turn the fabric inside out (wrong side now facing out) and sew another 1/4″ seam over the first hem to enclose it inside.
   
   Finish what will be the bottom of your topmost layer with a standard 1/4″ fold over hem with a straight stitch. You can make wider if you prefer the look or if the material requires it (for example, I had a sequined material that required a 1/2″ hem due to the natural fold of the fabric texture).
   
5. Combine the two skirts:   Place the top skirt inside the tulle layers with the right side facing out.
   
   Pin the top skirt to the tulle layers using the 4 pins from step 3, and use the basting stitch to gather the tulle layer to match the top skirt layer. Sew the top skirt to the tulle with a straight stitch along a generous 1/4″ seam allowance. Remove the basting stitch.
   
   Fold the top layer out over the tulle layer to enclose the seam. The placement will depend on the width of your elastic, you will need to have enough room to feed your elastic through this hem, and where you want the top layer hem to fall against the tulle layer (I preferred to let some of the tulle show).
   
   Once you have determined your placement, pin the layers to keep your distance even, and sew a straight stitch seam ALMOST all the way around, leaving 1 1/2-2″ to feed your elastic through.OPTIONAL: If your top most layer is very see through, you may want to use double-fold bias tape as the enclosure for the elastic. Create a length slightly longer than the circumference of your skirt, sew to the top of the skirt leaving 1 1/2-2″ opening for the elastic, proceed to step 6.
6. Add elastic and finish:   Open the layers up between the top layer and the tulle layers and find your opening. Holding on to one end of the elastic, feed the other end through the tube using a heavy safety pin or something similar. When you have both ends and are sure the elastic is laying flat in the skirt, pull both ends of the elastic together to gather the fabric and give yourself as much length as possible.
   
   Lay the two ends on top of each other and sew together with a box stitch. Pull the skirt waist to retract the elastic back into the skirt and sew the opening shut with a straight stitch.
   
   Spread the gathering of the skirt evenly around the elastic, and fluff the tulle. Enjoy!