Easy one-seam tutu skirt tutorial

Ready to make a fun, fluffy tutu skirt? This one-seam tulle skirt tutorial is as easy as it gets! You’ll end up with a cute, twirly skirt with only one seam at the waist – perfect for any party, race, photo shoot, or just a fun day out. You can even make this as a gift for little girls who dream of being ballerinas!

What you’ll need:

For my skirt, I used 118-inch-wide soft tulle fabric (the kind used for wedding dresses and veils) and cut it into rectangles. Here’s a quick breakdown of what I used:

• Skirt length: 15 inches
• Tulle rectangles: 6 pieces, each 30 inches by 118 inches
• Total fabric: 5 yards (4.5 meters) of tulle
• Layers: This skirt has four layers of tulle and no lining, making it a bit sheer.

This style is a great fit over leggings, tights, or bike shorts if you want more coverage.

Quick overview of the steps:

First, here’s a quick look at how I made this one-seam tutu skirt:

• Stack and fold: Place two rectangles of tulle on top of each other, then fold them in half lengthwise.
• Make the waistband casing: The folded edge will become the elastic casing. To keep the layers together, hand-baste near the fold, then stitch the casing with a 3/8-inch seam allowance.
• Repeat: Do the same with the other tulle rectangles, creating three folded pieces total.
• Thread the elastic: Run a narrow elastic through the casings of all three folded pieces. That’s it – your tutu skirt is done!

Related: How to make a tiered tulle skirt / lined tulle skirt / circle tulle skirt

I love how this tutu skirt turned out – it’s so neat and fluffy! The skirt is a bit sheer, but with four layers, it still gives a good amount of coverage (see the video below). Pair it with leggings or tights, and you’re all set.

Now, check out the step-by-step tutorial with photos below!

Sewing supplies – DIY one-seam tutu skirt tutorial

• 5-8 yards of 118 inches (300 cm) super wide soft tulle (depends on your size & the length of the skirt)
• 1/4″ or 3/8″ wide elastic
• sewing machine
• hand sewing needle
• safety pin
• matching thread
• rotary cutter
• cutting mat

Here’s how to make a one-seam tutu skirt

Step 1 – cut your tulle

Start by cutting your tulle pieces. If your tulle is on a bolt, it’s easiest to cut with a rotary cutter and a cutting mat.

• Number of pieces: Cut 6 rectangles using the full width of the fabric.
• Size of pieces: To figure out the length of each piece, double the finished length you want for your skirt. For a 15-inch skirt, cut each piece to 118 inches wide by 30 inches long.

Tip: If your tulle has wrinkles, lightly press it with a low-temperature iron.

Step 2 – align the tulle layers

Now, take two of your tulle pieces and start aligning their long, 118-inch edges. I find it helpful to stand while doing this, as it lets the layers cling naturally.

Just align the long edges once – no need to worry about them shifting! The layers will hold in place thanks to a bit of static.

Step 3 – fold the tulle for the waistband

Now, fold your aligned tulle layers in half lengthwise, lining up all four raw edges. Try not to stretch the layers as you fold.

Step 4 – hand baste the tulle layers

Now, it’s time to secure your tulle layers with a quick hand-basting stitch. This will keep everything in place before we start sewing the waistband.

What to watch for: First, make sure your layers are neatly aligned along the folded edge – they should meet up evenly here.

You want this:

But not that:

Also, keep an eye on the raw edges to make sure they’re as aligned as possible. The goal is to avoid any extra trimming or adjusting at the end.

Helpful tip: If it’s tricky to get the layers just right, take a deep breath and keep adjusting until it looks good! Trust your fingers – they’re some of your best tools for this delicate work. If you’re distracted (pot on the stove, baby crying, feeling tired), it’ll be harder to get things just right. So, try to be calm and focused as you work through these steps.

To start basting, thread a hand-sewing needle with a single thread. Begin stitching just below where you’ll sew the waistband later. I recommend using a contrasting thread color so you can easily see and remove it afterward.

After basting

Once you finish your first piece, give yourself a pat on the back – you did it! Now, repeat Steps 1–4 for the remaining four tulle layers. When you’re done, you’ll have three folded and basted tulle pieces ready to go!

Step 5 – sew the elastic casing and join the tulle pieces

Now, it’s time to get sewing! Take your basted tulle pieces to your sewing machine.

• Sew the elastic casing: Start sewing 3/8 inch from the folded edge to make the casing for your elastic. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure it.
• Remove the basting thread: Once the casing is sewn, go ahead and take out the basting thread.

Join the tulle pieces

Now we’ll join the tulle pieces to make one full skirt.

• Overlap the casings: Place two tulle pieces together by overlapping their top casings by about 1/4 inch. Sew them together for about 1 inch along the existing seam line. Don’t forget to backstitch!
• Repeat: Do the same with the third tulle piece, joining it to the others. Then, finish the loop by connecting the first and last tulle pieces the same way.

This method skips side seams entirely – it’s a seamless circle! The tulle will naturally cling to itself due to static, so there’s no need to worry about inside or outside layers.

Step 6 – insert the elastic and finish the skirt

• Cut the elastic: Choose a narrow elastic, around 1/4 or 3/8 inch wide. Make sure it’s strong enough to hold the skirt’s weight.
• Thread the elastic: Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and feed it through all three casings, keeping the other end secure with another safety pin.

• Fit and secure the elastic: Try on the skirt to check the fit. Adjust as needed, then overlap the ends of the elastic and stitch them together.

Finally, even out the gathers around the waistband, and there you have it – your fluffy, one-seam tutu skirt is ready to wear!

Whether it’s for a party, a fun run, or just because, this fluffy tulle skirt is sure to turn heads and bring smiles.

Making a tutu may seem like a lot of tulle and fluff, but look at the payoff – a beautiful, handmade skirt that’s as unique as you are! I hope you enjoy this cute, easy DIY.

Tips and tricks for making a DIY tutu skirt

1. Length

First, decide how long you want your skirt. To get the length for your fabric pieces, just double the finished skirt length you have in mind. So, for a 15-inch skirt, your fabric pieces will need to be 30 inches long.

2. Width and gathering ratio

For my tutu skirt, I used a gathering ratio of about 13x – that means my skirt width is 13 times my waist measurement. Here’s a breakdown:

• Tulle skirt width: 118 inches (fabric width) × 3 pieces = 354 inches
• My waist measurement: 27 inches

Yes, that’s a lot of fabric, but remember, tulle is light and airy, so the extra width gives it that fluffy, full look! If you prefer a slightly less full skirt, you could try an 11x gathering ratio, and it will still provide enough coverage.

3. Adding extra tulle for larger sizes

If your waist is over 40 inches, you may want to add more tulle pieces to achieve the same full, gathered effect. It’s a bit of trial and error, but you can start with 6 layers and add more if needed.

Making tutu skirts for kids

For a child’s tutu skirt, 4 layers of tulle (each 118 inches wide) should be plenty. This gives a skirt width of 236 inches, which is just right for a little one.

I made a 20-inch-long tutu for my 5-year-old with 4 pieces, each 118 by 40 inches – perfect for dress-up fun! She loves pretending to be her favorite Disney princess, whether it’s Merida or Elsa.

Did you find this one-seam tutu skirt tutorial helpful? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you make one yourself, please share some photos @icansewthis – I’d be thrilled to see your creation!

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