This super full no sew tulle skirt tutorial will guide you through the steps to create beautiful tulle skirts without a sewing machine.
I am certainly not a professional photographer, but I do really enjoy taking photos, especially of my friends and family–I call it “mom-tography.” Last fall some close friends asked me to do a family session for their Christmas card photo. They wanted a look that was fun and playful, with a bright pop of color, so we decided to make a big puffy tulle skirt for their little girl to wear.
Had I known how easy it would be to whip these little puppies up, I would have tried it a long time ago. Their family photos turned out absolutely darling, and I made a mental note to make some full-skirted tutus for my own girls the next time we got around to doing a photo session of our own.
Fast forward almost ten months and here we are.
Luckily this time around I managed to snap actually takes some photos while I was making the skirts, just so you could see how simple they really are. I whipped them both up in about an hour and the girls were so excited about their fancy princess skirts that they happily agreed to pose for me. (P.S. The little jean jackets were a great sale find at the JCrew outlet!)
No Sew Tulle Skirt
Here is what you need:
tulle fabric (at least 20 yards per skirt) elastic (1/2″-3/4″ size is fine) scissorsStep 1: Grab a length of tulle and fold it over, then measure it against your model to see how long the pieces will be that you have to cut. This is not an exact science, but better slightly too long than too short!
Step 2: Cut your first piece based on your measurement, then cut remaining pieces until tulle is all cut.
Step 3: Lay pieces flat on top of each other, then cut in half, starting in the middle of the folded edge.
Step 4: Measure a piece of elastic around your model’s waist and tie in place. Don’t knot it too tightly, as you may have to adjust it after the skirt is finished.
Step 5: Take a piece of tulle and loop it around the elastic, pulling the two ends through the loop as shown.
Step 6: Pull to tighten loop, but do not tighten all the way until all the tulle is on the elastic so that you can adjust as necessary.
Step 7: Continue looping the tulle pieces onto the elastic until they are gone. Make sure tulle is evenly spaced on elastic.
Step 8: Place skirt on model. Trim bottom of skirt to make it floor length. Adjust elastic as necessary. Tighten tulle loops and you’re done! Whether you want to take your own photos or arrange a professional shoot, these skirts photograph beautifully!
Did you make this no sew tulle skirt? Share your experience in the comments!
Other easy DIY Projects you might like:
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Yours are soooo cute! Thank you so much for posting this. I am trying to make myself a full-length skirt for Halloween. I bought 25 yds of black tulle. Before I cut anything, I want to understand your instructions completely. If I am measuring the length from my waist to the floor, then folding it over, why am I cutting it in half? Wouldn’t that make it short? This is the time I wish my mother were still living – she was such a great seamstress and could figure measurements in her head! I’m not that good with math. LOL I just want to make sure I don’t mess it up. Thank you for your help! I appreciate it.
Yes….you need to make the pieces DOUBLE the length from your waist to the floor, then cut them in half! 🙂
If you cut the double length piece in half when you attach the tulle to the elastic, does that not make it shorter?? Do you fold the cut piece in half to make the loop??
“then cut in half, starting in the middle of the folded edge.”
You are thinking about cutting it the wrong way. You want to cut *down* your folded length so that you have two pieces that are both twice the length you want but are only half as wide as the bolt.
Almost all bolts have the fabric folded over. The instructions don’t *say* to unfold it, but that’s what you do. Unfold and then double over one end to twice your length. Cut. Continue that process. Stack them high and cut them in half starting mid-way through your folds and cutting towards the cut ends.
BrendaH: Best instructions for the folding and cutting. Thank you.
Do they have a slip on under the skirt?
I love your tutorial 🙂 I must try to create this soon. I’m trying to purchase the tulle online, but they offer various width sizes (ex. 12″, 18″, 27″, 54″, or 72″). I have no clue which width of tulle you used for your skirt. Can you please help me out. Thanks 🙂
This is beautiful! I have so much tulle left over from my wedding that may just have to be repurposed this way! 🙂
so adorable. I really want to make one for my toddler now, and try my hand at my own mom-tography. Do you have a fancy camera?
My camera is a pretty basic DSLR (the Nikon D3100) but I do have a pretty nice lens. I added the details to the post above!