Three Tier Tutu Tutorial (say that three times fast...)

There are many-a great no-sew tutorials out there.  However, when I got it into my head to make my little Scout a three tier tutu, there was very, very little to be found.  So, here is a tutorial I put together for all those out there like me who like to see their little Princess all but swimming in tulle.

Initially, I started making this with the idea it would have an elastic waste.  Once I was knee deep in tulle, however, I decided to make it an apron tie waste so that my daughter could continue to wear it for a few years (and so that I can wear it when no one is looking).  

The upside to this project is that tulle is relatively inexpensive.  It cost me about $1 per yard.  The downside, of course, is that working with tulle is almost as difficult as getting your daughter to take a cute picture in the tutu after it's finished.  However, with a bit of patience and a bit more time, you can do it!

I'll refer to the colors green, red, and pink for the purpose of this tutorial, but you can use any three colors you prefer, obviously. 

Let's do this thing:

Supplies Needed

Green Tulle - 4 yards

Red Tulle - 3 yards 

Pink Tulle - 2 yards

Coordinating Thread

Safety Pins

Coordinating fabric

Coordinating Ribbon
Sewing Machine
Sewing Needle

Cutting board, Ruler, and Rotery Cutter (these things would technically be optional, but I imagine it would be very difficult without them)

First, you've got to get your measurements.  The measurements you'll need for this are the waist measurement and the length you want each tier to be.  My 18 month old daughter, for example, has a 19 3/4 waist (I round up to 20).  I decided I wanted the tiers to be 7, 9, and 11 inches long.  It's as simple as that!

Cut each layer of tulle.  The width will be same length as the desired finished length (in my case, 7, 9, and 11 inches).  The length will be 2 - 2.5 times the waist measurement (the longer you make it, the more rufflely it will be).   Cut between 4 - 8 pieces for each layer.  Per my example, I cut several pink pieces 7 x 50 inches.  Then I cut the red pieces 9 x 50 inches and the green 11 x 50 inches. 

Set your stitch length to the longest possible length (mine is a 4) and sew a straight line 1/2 inch away from the edge of EACH piece of tulle.  Don't worry - this goes pretty quickly.

Tip: You can sew two pieces (of the same color) together if you like to save time.  Just be careful that the edges are aligned.  To do this, simply line up the very ends, sew about 6 inches, realign the edges, sew 6 more inches, and repeat til the end.

After sewing the edges of each piece of tulle, gather each piece.  To do this, pull very gently on the bottom thread of each line sewn.  Pull a little on each side, then push the ruffles along the thread so that they are even all the way across.  Adjust the ruffles so that the length of the tulle is 3 inches shorter than the waist measurement (for my example, I stretched each piece to 17 inches).

Tip: Now is a good time to lay each layer of tulle to see how the colors look.  If one color doesn't "pop" as much as the others, add more pieces of that color.  For my daughter's skirt, I noticed that the green needed more pieces that the red and pink in order to stand out. 

Ohhhhh....ahhhhh....pretty tulle.....

Now take each color layer and safety pin the pieces together.  Start on the edges, making sure each piece is aligned.  Next, pin the middle, then pin in between the middle and edges.  Use at least 5 pins.

Now pin all three layers together using the same order as above.  Be sure that all the edges stay relatively aligned and that the middle pieces don't drop.

Tip:  Use smaller safety pins for pinning the individual layers and larger safety pins for pinning all three layers together.

With a sewing needle and coordinating thread, sew the three layers together by hand.  This does not have to be perfect.  Just make a stitch every 1/2 inch or so, enough to secure the three pieces together.  The picture above is what it should look like after the layers are sewn and the pins are removed.

Tip:  Use the original straight stitch line as a guide.

Time to make the band!  Cut a piece of coordinating fabric 5 1/4 inches x 1/2 inch shorter than the waist measurement.  My piece was 5 1/4 inches by 19.5 inches (for a 20 inch waist).

Fold over each edge of the fabric 1/4 inch and press then sew.

Break out your iron.  Fold the fabric in half an press.

Open up the fabric.  Fold the edge of each side in 1/4 inch and press (for a picture of this, see 3 pictures down).

Now fold the edges just below the crease in the middle and press again.

Now fold the entire piece in half again and press yet again.  This is the same method you would use when making bias tape.

Next, pin the edge of the fabric to the back of the tutu (green side).  The right side of the fabric should be touching the tulle.  Pin so that the edges of the tulle are even with the edge of the fabric on the top.  There should be about 1 inch of fabric left over on each side of the tulle skirt.

Using your sewing machine, sew just above the first crease in the fabric.  This should be about an inch from the edge.

Now, flip the fabric over and fold the last quarter under so that it looks like the picture above.  There should be no raw edges showing.  Pin in place and sew, being sure to remove the pins as you go.

Cut two pieces of ribbon about 25 inches long.

Stick one end of the ribbon inside the end of the fabric band.  Repeat on the other side

Tip: Use a lighter to slightly burn the outter raw edges of the ribbon to make sure it doesn't fray.

And...voila!   An adorable Christmas Princess Three Tier Tutu!!!

If you take a stab at this tutorial, be sure to let me know!  I'd love to see pictures of your three tier tutu!

Enjoy!

Spa Wrap Tutorial!

Recently, a good friend turned a year older and I wanted to make her a gift that showed her how crazy cool I think she is.  Since her home away from home is the YMCA, I thought I'd make her a little spa wrap towel to use after her workouts.  Personally, my favorite thing about the gym is putting the kids in childcare, then taking a shower and putting on my make up in peace.  This little wrap lets you soak up those baby free moments in style.


Here we go...

Supplies Needed:

1. 2 towels - make sure the towel is large enough to wrap around you comfortably

2. Fabric - 2 times the length of your towel

3. Velcro - 3/4 inch sew in 

4. Elastic - 1.5 inch knit woven 

5. Scissors

6. Thread - should match your towel and fabric

7. Pins

8. Cutting Board, ruler, rotary cutter, fabric pen (these are optional, I suppose, but make life a HECK of a lot easier!)

Ruffle:

1. Cut the edge off the towel and finish the edge.  You can do this with a zig zag stitch or with a serger.

2. Cut a strip of decorative fabric 5 inches wide by 2 times the length of the short side of your towel.  I had to cut two strips and sew them together in order to get the length needed.  Fold in half and press so that it measures 2.5 inches wide.  Finish the edges, again by zig zag or serger.  

3.  Gather the fabric to create the ruffle.  The way that I do this is by a) setting my sewing machine to the longest stitch length, b) loosening the tension of the top thread a bit, c) sewing one line with 1/4 inch seam, then d) pulling very gently on the top thread until the fabric gathers into a ruffle.

4. Adjust the length of the ruffle until it is the same size as the finished edge of the towel.  Pin the ruffle to the wrong side of the towel.  Sew.

*side note - I did try pinned the right sides of the fabric and towel together as well, but it didn't sit as well.

This next part is the tough part.  Hang in there...

Elastic:

1. Wrap the towel around your bodacious body.  This should give you a good idea of just how much fabric you'd like to "take in" with the elastic. 

2. Cut a strip of elastic about 10 - 12 inches.

3. With a pen, make little marks on the top of the elastic at the 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 marks.  In other words, if you have a piece of elastic 12 inches long, there will be a mark at the 3, 6, and 9 inch marks (see photo below).  

4. Make a small mark on the middle of the top of the towel.  Then, make little marks 4 and 8 inches on either side of the middle.  These marks will help you line the elastic up to the appropriate places on the towel.

5. Using a zig zag stitch, sew the side of the elastic about 1/2 inch from the first mark (which should be about 8 inches from the middle).  Sew back and forth several times in order to secure it in place.

6.  Using the marks on the elastic and towel as guides, use a straight stitch to sew the top of the elastic in place.  Use a zig zag again to sew the other side in place.

7.  Using all the strength in your mighty biceps, fold the elastic over twice and sew along the bottom of the entire casing.  This will not be easy, but you can do it.  You may have to do this in portions to make sure that the sides match up correctly.

Velcro:

1.  Sew about 8 inches of velcro to the top sides of the wrap.  Be sure to fit the towel around you again to assure that you are sewing the velcro to the correct sides.  If the ruffle is wrapping to your left, the velcro should be sewn to the outside top of the left part of the towel and to the inside top of the ruffle side.  Confused yet?

Almost done...

Bottom Ruffle:

1. Cut 4 inch strips off the top and bottom of the extra towel.  I used the top and bottom so that the edges can keep that nice finishing.

2. Sew the two pieces together so that the length of the strips is twice as long as the spa wrap.  

3.  Finish the edges.

4. Gather the towel strip (just as you did to make the fabric ruffle).  This is not easy, so you may have to break it up into parts.  Take your time so that the thread doesn't break.

5. Sew the strip to the bottom of the towel - right sides together.  Press it down.  

If you like, take it to an embroidery store to have it monogramed.  

You're finished!  Now get to the gym and make all the girls in the locker room jealous!