Tutu’s are one of the easiest crafts and Oh So Cute! Our Tutu Tutorial with a crochet headband waist by Our Thrifty Ideas will teach you how to make a fun tutu that is super full, even, and fits most waists with no measuring.
Hi all, I’m so excited to be here again. Especially because of the fun tutorial I get to share! If you missed my last post, let me introduce myself. My name is Vanessa and I blog over at Our Thrifty Ideas. I share fun and thrifty ways to craft, DIY, and live a fun life.
This last week was my beautiful daughter’s 1st birthday. Because she is my first and only daughter, I go all out in the girly department! And I’m not sure there is anything more girly than a tutu!
The best part of this tutu is how easy it is to make. I literally sat down with my hubby one night and made it while watching one of the shows off our DVR.
Tutu Tutorial: Crochet Headband Waist
– Supplies –
(the crochet headband will fit up to a 20 inch waist)
(about 10 inches long – for a 12 month size, longer if you are making it for an older child)
For my tulle, I used a 1.5” Crochet Headband in Hot Pink, the Glimmer Tulle in American Beauty and Shrimp, and Moda fabric in Tangerine from the Dottie line and Sunshine Yellow Dots from the Grow With Me Line, as well as some giraffe fabric I had on hand.
All supplies can be purchased at The Ribbon Retreat where you’ll find an awesome selection of colors, great prices, fast shipping, and wonderful service!
Start by cutting all of your strips of fabric and tulle. Cut the tulle and fabric at about 10 inches long. Cut the fabric strips to be about 1 inch wide. The tulle is already cut on the spool at about 6 inches wide. Separate them all into sections. This will help in the long run, I promise!
To make things easy, I found a large cylinder to wrap the headband around. This helps keep the sections spread apart for easy looping, and it holds the headband still the whole time! You can use a oatmeal can, coffee can, Nesquik can… etc.
Start with the tulle strands on the bottom. The reason for this is because the tulle is so thick, it will help to lift the fabric and give it the “full” look. Next you will place the fabric strips on the row above.
Now, how to attach the strips:
Start by folding the strip in half and place the folded end down through the hole.
Then fold the tails down through the loop and pull tightly.
Once again, on the bottom row, you will want to do JUST TULLE, and put 2 strips of tulle per hole. You do not need to do a pattern when putting these in place, because they will all jumble together into a big poof anyway!
Then once you are done with the tulle, you will go up one row and put the fabric in, 2 strips per hole.
The tutu is fabulous… so full, and because of how fun it is, it’s definitely perfect for a party!
Thanks for letting me stop by again today. Please check out my blog Our Thrifty Ideas for tons of other fun projects I made for her party. You can also find me on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest and Instagram (@barkerfam)
Thank you so much Vanessa!
Isn’t her little girl a beauty! Every little girl needs a tutu and using a crochet headband is genius! It totally takes care of the annoying step of using elastic as well as keeping your tulle/fabric even. And I love how full the tutu gets!
Make sure to take a look at The Ribbon Retreat’s selection of Tulle, Glimmer Tulle, fabric, and Crochet Headbands. There is something for every little girl!
And also stop by Our Thrifty Ideas! Vanessa has a wonderful blog full of fun stuff! I personally love these tutorials: Decorative Shelf, Button Letter Wall Canvas, No-Sew Onesie, and a Ruffled Welcome Spring Sign
(and so much more!)
And if you’re a craft blogger who’d like to submit a tutorial of your own, visit our Project Submission Page to see all the details. We love our contributors!
Have a great day! ~ Shirley, The Ribbon Retreat Blog Editor
45 Comments
What sizes would you guess the headbands fit? I have a friend with a 3 year old and wasn’t sure how big they would really stretch. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your question. The crochet headband fits up to a 20″ waist. I have updated the post with that info as well. I hope this helps! Have a great day! – Shirley 🙂
This turned out so cute Vanessa!!! Great tutorial too
You recommend cutting the strips ahead of time and list the sizes, but how many strips of tulle and ribbon did you use? Thanks!
Hi Danielle! The blog author says “My headband has 26 holes around (I believe) and I did 2 per hole. So 52 strips of fabric and 52 strips of tulle. That’s total, not per fabric. So because I had different patterns, I split it close to even!” Have fun making your tutu! – Shirley 🙂
I love this idea. How smart and talented you are. I have a 7 year old girl and this is going to be a start of Halloween costume. Thank you, Emma.
So am I reading it correctly that you just leave the tulle at the original width of 6″?
Hi Tara! Yes you just leave the tulle at 6″ width. – Shirley 🙂
Hello. How many yards of tulle is needed? Thanks!
Hi April! The blogger used two colors of tulle on the spool. Our spools have 25 yards and are 6″ wide. I am not sure if she used them all or not, but the more you have the fuller it is and vice versa. I hope this helps! – Shirley 🙂
What a great idea. Can’t wait to try it!
Hi Sara! Thank you for your comment! Happy Creating!!
I’m confused… So you need 52 pieces of material total? Since there is 26 holes and two pieces or material in each hole, that’s 56 pieces of material right? And you fill the whole headband right? It looks in the picture like the tip of the band doesn’t have any material in it.
Great idea and really good instructions! I do love the t-shirt your daughter is wearing. Any instructions for making or purchasing? Thanks!
I am little confused do you only do one row of tulle and one row of fabric and leave the rest of the headband undone?
Hi Jackie! Thank you so much for your question. Yes, Vanessa did leave the rest of the headband empty, so that it can serve as the waistband to the tutu! Thank you again and good luck with your tutu! Have a wonderful rest of your day! Michelle 🙂
Good morning, I have crocheted headband on a roll. Can you please provide me with a size chart showing sizes to cut to cut the headband and tulle from infant size and up. I’m confused…saw your tutorial and it shows a headband for an infant cut at 7-1/2″, then on another site it said if you want an 7-1/2″ waist to cut the headband at 15″, in other words to double. I want to make an infant tutu like your tutorial shows with the 7-1/2″ headband for my neighbor & with the 11″ & 13″ tulle. So if I understood correctly, the first row and last row are 11″ and the middle row is 13″, am I understanding correctly?
I have learned so much from your tutorials and my granddaughter now has a variety of hairbows to match her outfits!!
Your prompt response is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!
Hi Margie! Thank you for your question. To get the measurement for the infant’s waist, I would simply measure the waist itself. As far as the length for the tulle and fabric strips go, you could measure the distance from the infant’s waist to the kneecap and cut your strips accordingly. If the distance is 5 inches, for example, you would double that length to 10 because the strips will be folded in half like in the pictures. Vanessa cut all of her strips, fabric and tulle, the same length for the whole tutu. She didn’t cut any shorter strips she just placed them in different rows of the headband that is giving the appearance of some strips being a little shorter than others. I hope this helps Margie! I am so glad that you have made so many fun things for your granddaughter from using our tutorials. She is such a lucky lady to have a wonderful grandma like you! Good luck and happy crafting!!!
Michelle 🙂
Can i please ask. When you say to put 2 stands of tulle per hole. Is that 2 stands of the same colour? Or one of each colour? Does it matter which way you do it? Many thanks xx
Hi Joanne! Great question…you can do whatever you want and place whatever colors you would like per hole! If you want more dimension to your tutu, I would add two different colors per hole. That will make the tutu a little busier but however you want to do it, will be perfect! The sky is the limit with this awesome little tutu so have so much fun and good luck with your tutu! Have a wonderful day and thank you Joanne! Michelle 🙂
This is awesome If you have a larger child you can get the headband fabric on the roll at walmart made by offray. You will have to stitch or tie it off I was thinking about using a couple of large buttons
Hi Tonya! Thank you so much for your tip. That is such a great idea! I love the idea of adding buttons…how cute would that be?!? Great ideas, I LOVE it! Thanks again Tonya and have a wonderful day! Michelle 🙂
Can you make a newborn one with the same headband? I’ve made a few but they seem to be too big for nb-9months 🙁
Hi Amanda! Thank you for your question! These tutus with the headband waist are going to be too big for a newborn. I am sorry! However, we have a few other fabulous tutu tutorials that would be perfect for a brand new little one. You and find those written tutorials HERE, HERE or our YouTube video tutorials HERE or HERE! I hope this helps. Good luck with your tutu and thank you so much for stopping by! Michelle 🙂
I have a question I want to make a crochet headband dress to fit a 5 yr old but I have a 6×6 crochet headband at least I think it’s the size I wish I can take a pic of it I’ve watched all of your videos on YouTube I learned to make bows for my Lil girl who is only 2 months old and I’ve made her a tutu dress Please Help!!!
Hi Kristina! Thank you for your question. The crochet headband will fit up to a 20″ waist. If your little one’s waist is a little bit bigger than that, you could probably buy two headbands and piece them together to create a waistband to fit. I hope this helps. Thank you so much for stopping by and good luck! Michelle 🙂
I’ve finished making the tutu dress, however when I put it on my one year old the dress keeps on falling down. What can I do to tighten it a bit? Thanks
Hi Tracy! Thank you for your question. You could take a seam down both sides to tighten it up so it will stay where it needs to be. You could then unpick your seam when she gets a little older and bigger. This is one way you could fix it, but I think an easy way as well. Thank you and hope this helps! Michelle 🙂
Hello, I want to start making these but I am really confused about the headband sizes.. when I look online to buy them it seems like a one size fits all deal, they say baby or kid. but if that’s the case then a chart wouldn’t be needed. If the only size I’m seeing is the 1.5in width, nothing that saysbhow long theybare or how far they stretch. how do I know which ones to buy? Super confused n discouraged. Thank you if you have an answer..
Hi Sara! Thank you so much for your question! I am so sorry for your frustrations and hope that I can help you! You are right, the headbands do seem to be a one size fits all but sometimes it’s hard to tell if it is really going to fit for a waistband for a tutu. So…the great news is, is that The Ribbon Retreat sells Crochet by the yard. You can buy it in a 1.5″, 6″, or even a 9″ width. You can find the 1.5″ crochet by the yard HERE, the 6″ HERE and the 9″ HERE! Buying it by the yard will assure that you get enough to fit the one you are making this fun tutu for. I hope this helps you! Good luck
Was wondering if anyone has had a problem with the headband stretching. Mine has doubled in size.
Hi Beth! Thank you for your question. I reviewed the other comments and did not find anyone else having this issue. I am so sorry your headband has doubled in size. Maybe someone else will be able to have some insight for you. Have a good one! Michelle 🙂
Well FYI, I had the same problem (although I’m using elastic). It has been hard to find the answer…even for a Google nerd like me, but I finally found out. We are tying the tulle too tight! Tying the tulle too tight stretches the band(s) to max resulting in a no longer stretchy, double the size, band. I’m going back and undoing and starting with a new strip of elastic. I hope I can save my tulle :-/
Hi Amanda! Wow….thank you so much for the info! You are awesome, and I so appreciate you sharing what you have found to be the issue with the band doubling in size! Have a great day and thank you again! Michelle 🙂
Mine is stretched out too.., I wonder what to do to cinch it up somehow. should I place something under the headband and stitch it?
I have to make a tutu for a 9 year old, they would like a stretch on so she can pull it on and off (so the ribbon tie one won’t work) I would like to do a crochet headband “waistband” but I’m guessing it won’t fit a 9 year old. What is the best way to make a tutu for a 9 year old? Thanks
Hi Ali! Thank you so much for your question. I am so excited to tell you that we now have Crochet by the Yard that you can purchase. You can find that product HERE! Now you will be able to order enough to fit a 9 year old perfectly! Thank you again and good luck with your tutu! Have a wonderful day! Michelle 🙂
I’m just checking. You recommend 10-12 inch long strips of tulle so that once knotted the tutu is only 4.5-5.5 inches long??
Hi Kim! Thank you for your question. Yes, you are right. After folding the fabric and tulle in half and the knot has been created, your strips will be approximately 4.5-5.5 inches long. Good luck with your tutu and thank you for stopping by! Have a wonderful day! Michelle 🙂
Hey there i am wanting to make a tutu for a newborn will i need a smaller headband?
Hi Jackie! Thank you for your question. I think you would for sure need a smaller headband for a newborn. You can actually now purchase this fun crochet headband material by the yard here at The Ribbon Retreat, so you can actually measure your little one and then cut the exact amount you need from the yard. You can find all of our Crochet Headbands and Crochet by the Yard HERE! Good luck, and I hope this helps! Michelle 🙂
Hi, for a two year old granddaughter bday would how long should I cut the tulle? I’m thinking of doing two rows of all tulle with glittery hot and light pink, turquoise and purple. Will it be too full or is there even a thing as too full lol!
Hi Liz! Thank you for your questions and NO…there is definitely no such thing as too full when it comes to tutus. Hehe! In regards to how long to cut the tulle…you will need to get a measurement on your granddaughter from her waist to where you want the bottom of the tutu to be on her leg. For example, if you want it to go down to her knee, measure from her waist to her knee. Just remember that the fuller it gets the shorter the tulle will look on the top. Good luck and have so much fun! Michelle 🙂
What if you can’t find a crochet headband any wear ?!??
Hi Lizzy! Good news….you can find a crochet headband right here at The Ribbon Retreat. Click HERE to find all of our crochet headbands ready to purchase. Thank you Lizzy and have a wonderful day! Michelle 🙂