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How to Make a Romantic Tutu on Basque

Ballet tutus come in a variety of styles and structures; most are reminiscent of historical tutus. The romantic style features soft, long pleats of tulle. A ballet basque is the pant bottom of the romantic tutu, where tulle layers are gathered and attached. By individually gathering and sewing each tulle layer up toward the bodice onto the basque, you are able to create a voluminous shape of cascading tulle pleats.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • 1 yard of lycra fabric
  • Basque pattern
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • 6 layers of 108-inch x 28-inch tulle
  • Sewing machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure waist, hip and thigh width. Add an inch to each measurement to allow for seams and note the measurements on the basque pattern.

    • 2

      Cut the front and back basque piece from the fabric on the bias according to the pattern and measurements.

    • 3

      Flip the fabric with the right sides facing one another and pin along the hip and crotch edges. Fold waist and thigh edges inward a 1/4 inch and pin.

    • 4

      Run all pinned edges through the sewing machine. Remove pins.

    • 5

      Pleat and pin each individual tulle layer. Run each layer through the sewing machine twice; once with a regular stitch, and the second time with a basting stitch. Pull the basting stitch thread tail to bunch each layer of tulle to the measured waist width.

    • 6

      Stack the pleated and pinned tulle layers on top of one another. Pin the layer stack onto the basque so the tutu layers form up around the bodice. The layers will wrap around the bodice like a tulip and are sewn from this angle so when they fall right side out the skirt is full.

    • 7

      Run the pinned layers through the sewing machine all at once. Remove pins. Let the layers of tulle fall downward and fluff as desired.

Ballet

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