How Tutu Made

About 150 years ago, when ballerinas first began dancing on their toes, a new type of dress called a tutu was invented. This was for two reasons. Firstly, it was very light, so the dancers could move easily about the stage. Secondly, and most importantly, they allowed the audience to see the complicated footwork and leg movements that are so important in a ballet.

HOW A TUTU IS MADE

To make a tutu you require two pieces of fabric, cut to the shape shown in picture 1, to the right of the page. These two pieces, joined together, form a ‘basque’, which wraps around the waist and hips. The whole dress is made to the waist measurement of the individual dancer who will be wearing it. However, each dress is designed so that alterations can be made quickly. This might be necessary if the dancer is injured and a substitute dancer has to appear.

For the next stage, you will need two more pieces of fabric to make the front and the back of the pants, as shown in picture 2 to the right. These are joined together down one edge. The lines on the pattern indicate where the frills will be sewn. The pants are left flat for the moment, as in picture 3.

The frills, made of netting, are now added. The designer has already chosen what colours to use, and may also now decide to add more details to the fabric. This could included cutting the edges of the fabric so the dress looks like it is made of feathers. Early tutus were often sprayed with paint after they had been sewn together, to give the colour required. The spray unfortunately made them very stiff, and difficult to iron!

The first frill is now attached along the curved bottom line of the pants using a sewing machine. It is important that the stitching is straight. Four more frills are then added, along the bottom four lines drawn on the pants. Each of these frills faces upwards. Four further fills are then sewn along each of the remaining lines on the pants, this time with the frills facing downwards. Picture 4, to the right of the page shows a side view diagram of this. All of this means that the bottom frills push against those at the top, which is what gives the tutu so much body and shape. In total, between 6 and 7 metres of netting will be used!

The pants are now joined together at the other edge, and elasticated at the leg line. They are sewn onto the basque that was made earlier, and each later of frill is joined at the back, so that each one will wrap all the way around the dancer’s body.

The tutu is now joined to a lined bodice, which is the part of the dress which covers the dancers stomach, chest and back. It can now be decorated with sequins or extra lace, or left plain, depending on which ballet it has been made for.

The whole process will take an experienced dressmaker (a ‘cutter), about two days for one


tutu.

Making Tutu

·  Choose a pattern. Kwik Sew Pattern 2618 has an easy tutu pattern, but it is just as easy to make your own pattern.

·  Make your own pattern. Measure the waist, the hips, length of the tutu, and the stride. To measure the stride take a step as far as you can, hold it, and measure. If the tutu is very short this step won't matter as much.

·  Lay out a piece of poster board paper or large wrapping paper. Trace the person's body on the white side of the paper. Then retrace the lines for a skirt according to the measurements you took earlier adding a ½ inch for mistakes and sewing. Erase the person's body outline leaving the measurement illustration. You should have trapezoid shape. You just made a pattern!

·  Purchase the material. Your tutu will be doubled up to add volume so purchase twice the size of your paper pattern. Buy the other things you will need.

Sewing and Decorating

·  Fold the tulle in half. The folded side will be the bottom edge of the tutu.

·  Cut the tulle to match your pattern. Don't forget to leave the extra ½ inch for sewing and don't cut the bottom crease where you folded the tulle in half.

·Attach the elastic with pins ½ inch from the top of the tulle. This is where the two pieces come together when folded. Fold the remaining ½ inch back over the elastic and re-pin. Sew the tulle down where you placed the pins. Make sure the elastic is the same size as the waist measurement.

·Sew the sides together. Tulle doesn't fray so don't worry about the hem on the side. The bottom should not have a hem since this is where the crease in the tutu is.

·Decorate the tutu with gems or sequins. Use a machine such as a Bedazzler or a GeMagic to attach the gems and studs. Make it as sparkly as you dare.

wha is tutu

What is a tutu. Tutu is an accessories contained in the waist like a skirt, but kept short and fluffy, the color can vary even material also has many variations, there is a transparent with shades of lace-subside or even from the fabric with the color of the rainbow. Many web sites that offer a variety of tutu. Even if you do not want to buy it, you can make it. Tutu surely make your little girl the more interesting.

Tutus majority favored by the girls because tutu can be changed and their needs. Easy and practical, Tutus easy to find and present in a variety of colors and prices. Accessories really make your little girls have a more special appearance

if the girl you take part in dance competitions, you’ll want to look for his rhinestone tutu complete for a beloved daughter look shinier.

Here are simple tips to buy a diamond imitation.

Make sure the size of the tutu was appropriate and not to restrict the movement of your daughter dance. Because you girls should really feel comfortable, when she is dancing.

Rhinestone available in various colors and sizes, you just make sure what is most striking colors and can beautify your daughter dances later. Silver or white color was chosen because those colors will reflect light that reaches it

make sure that the stitches that you make no guarantee rhinestone falls, ask your daughter to make basic movements to ensure that the tutu is really
with appropriate body.