Ballerina

20 min · $3-8 · Easy

A tulle tutu tied onto elastic, a leotard, and a neat ballerina bun.

You need

Pink tulle, 2 to 3 yards (buy: craft store; about $1 a yard)
Wide elastic, 1 inch wide, cut to the waist size plus 1 inch overlap (buy: craft store)
Pink leotard or fitted shirt, 1 (own, or buy: clothing store)
Pink tights, 1 pair (own, or buy: clothing store)
Hair ties and bobby pins, 1 pack (own)
Scissors, 1 pair

Measure the waist with the elastic: wrap it snug where the tutu will sit, overlap 1 inch, and cut. Tie or knot the overlap into a loop, this is the waistband. Cut it to the waist, not the hips, or the tutu slides down while twirling.
Cut the tulle into strips about 3 inches wide and twice as long as you want the skirt. For a toddler, strips roughly 3 by 20 inches; longer for bigger kids.
Fold one strip in half to make a loop at the top. Slip the loop under the elastic, pull the strip ends through the loop, and pull tight. Repeat side by side all the way around until the tutu looks full, usually 30 to 40 strips.
Fluff the strips outward. Trim the bottom edge even while the tutu hangs.
Safety: the elastic should sit snug on the waist, not the hips, so it stays up while twirling. Nothing tied around the neck.
Wear the tutu over the leotard and tights. Pull the hair into a high bun with the hair ties and bobby pins.
Optional pro finish: tie a short length of satin ribbon into a small bow and pin it at the back waistband. One bow is the difference between craft project and costume.

How much tulle for a no-sew tutu?: 2 yards for a toddler, 3 for a bigger kid. Cut strips 3 inches wide, with length equal to twice the finished skirt length.
How do you keep a no-sew tutu from falling down?: Measure the elastic snug at the waist (not the hips) with a 1-inch overlap, and tie strips tight against each other so the weight stays balanced.

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