An Easy Tulle Skirt Tutorial

Back in December, I had the brilliant idea to make a green tulle skirt for the Green Party at Alt Summit.

Of course, then I did nothing about that great idea and finally ended up buying fabric for the skirt in Las Vegas (when I mentioned this to Merrick, she said, “Are you going to make Mom sew it?” to which I replied, “NO! . . . maybe.”).

 

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Make your own tulle skirt in about an hour (and for under $25!)

It’s a really simple skirt, but the tulle skirt tutorial I used was so unbelievably convoluted that both of my parents and I stood around the laptop reading instructions over and over, trying to figure out WHAT in the world was going on. It was kind of like working on those tedious high school projects all over again.

No need for all that baloney. It’s totally easy enough to make without the aid of your parents (although, to be honest, I did let my mom do a lot of the sewing (meaning – she sewed two of the four seams – this tulle skirt really is that easy)).

Make your own tulle skirt in about an hour (and for under $25!)

The other good thing is that tulle is super-forgiving. I’m considering making one for Ella, because what’s the point of having little girls if you can’t make them little tulle skirts?

To make your own tulle skirt, you’ll need:

  • To do some math first. But easy math! You basically need two numbers here:
    • Length. First, how long you want your skirt to be (measure from your waist to your knee (or wherever you want your skirt to fall to) and add 1 inch).
    • Waist Radius. Second, the radius of your waist. Measure your waist and then divide that number by 3.14. Divide it again by 2. Done.
    • Add the first number (length) to your second number (waist radius).
  • Soft Tulle. If your final number (length+waist radius) is 27 or less, you’ll need about 6 yards (54″ inches wide – if you can’t find 54″ inch wide fabric, you’ll need to buy 12 yards). If your final number is more than 27, you’ll need about 12 yards.
  • Lining in a color that matches your tulle (A knit is better because it won’t be as staticky, but I ignored this advice because I could only find something silky that matched my tulle color). You’ll want your waist measurement (the full circumference of your waist (25 or more inches) multiplied by 1.5. (So if your waist is 28 inches, you’ll want 42 inches of fabric).
  • Elastic (I used black). Enough to fit snugly around your waist, plus 1 inch for overlap.
  • Yard stick
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread
  • A big piece of butcher paper (optional)
Wash, dry and iron your tulle (or make your mom iron it) so it’s as soft as possible. If your tulle is already pretty soft, you can skip this step.
On your butcher paper, if you’re using it, make a pattern piece for your skirt with the yardstick. You want a half circle as shown below:
Cut out your pattern piece out and set aside.
Fold your tulle in half lengthwise (if your final number is 27 or less – otherwise you’ll skip the folding).
Fold it in half like a book, then in half again, so you have eight layers total.
Pin your pattern piece on top and cut it all out at once.
If your fabric was too small to cut full circles, sew sets of two half-circles together to make 4 whole circles.

 

Baste two of the full circles together at the top to hold them together, then repeat with the remaining two full circles.
Stack the four circles on top of each other and mark with pins at each of the four quarters of the waist opening.
Pin the edges of your elastic together with a 1/2″ of overlap and zig-zag securely. Mark with pins the four quarters so you can match it with the tulle.
Pin the tulle to the inside of the elastic, matching your pins at the quarters and then zig-zag all the way around.
Take your lining and sew the cut edges together to make a tube.
Baste around the top edge and gather it until it will fit around your waist.
Pin in place under the tulle and zig-zag it securely to the elastic.
Trim excess fabric from the bottom so it doesn’t show below your tulle. 
Ta-da! You have your very own tulle skirt!
Make your own tulle skirt in about an hour (and for under $25!)

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46 Comments

  2. I could never sew this skirt….NEVER!! But I love it, and it looks amazing on you! And yes…you definitely should make one for your girls…they need a tulle skirt!

    Reply

  3. I loved this skirt on you! So pretty! Dying to have one in pink. And I loved your honest post about ALT. I've been wanting to go for years. I think I'd just be so intimidated not knowing a soul!!!

    Reply

  6. Oh, I was SO hoping you'd post a tutorial after I saw your picture on Instagram! Love the skirt, love how you styled it in such a sophisticated way, and love the hair. You look fantastic! And I totally need one of these skirts. Bad.

    Reply

  7. Awesome tutorial! This is super identical to the Anthropologie tulle skirt, but probably so much cheaper to make your own!

    Reply

  8. Janssen, this is just what I needed! I saw the cutest pink tulle skirt online and by the time I got around to actually buying it, it was sold out. I'm not one to attempt sewing projects, so consider yourself a master saleswoman. Second of all, love that you managed to work pi into a sewing project. Math teachers everywhere are rejoicing. 🙂 third of all, your hair = love.

    Reply

  10. You look like a princess! I seriously NEED one of these skirts… and I barely know the basics in sewing… Which means my mom will be helping me make this lol Thanks for this tutorial though <3

    Reply

  16. Love it! I shared a picture from your project on my blog and linked it back to you. Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply

    1. It's a loose stitch to hold something in place. In the case of using a basting stitch to gather, you just sew loose stitches all the way around the top and then pull the thread so your fabric bunches up along the thread.

      Reply

  19. I have a question about the waist opening for this skirt. Your directions say to use your waist measurement and then find the radius of that circumference. That would produce an opening to small to fit over ones hips, if I'm not mistaken. Also, there would be no excess to gather with the elastic. Is there an ease factor that needs to be added to your equation? I love this skirt and wish to make one.

    Reply

    1. Tulle has a lot of stretch and give, so you don't need any extra. If you're worried about it, cut it out as normal, and then try one of the circles on to check that it's big enough before you go forward.

      Reply

  21. I LOVE this skirt!! nicely done!! and that cracks me up that Merrick said are you going to make mom sew it – that's just something I would do! lol! beautiful skirt!

    Reply

  24. LOVE this tulle skirt! I featured it on Wednesday Roundup at Put A Bird On It. 🙂 It goes live tomorrow!

    Reply

  25. Hi, I am having problems with the waist measurements…I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong. I am a 32 waist therefore, 32/3.14/2 gives me 5.09". I made my half circle radius 5.09" but it seems very small to fit…The length would be about 25" it seems short…even when I measure from the waist circle as shown in your diagram…can you advise? 🙂 I love this skirt and wish to make one asap. But can't figure out where I am going wrong..

    Reply

  27. Hi! Love the skirt! I wanna make one for my little girl but, I am having some problems with the instructions.
    Do I need to cut 2 full circles each of the lining and the tulle?
    Could you please help me out?

    Reply

  28. And also, my baby's waist circumference is 15 inches, so would I be needing 22.5" lining fabric and 6 yards of tulle?

    Reply

  29. So, if your number is greater than 27 do you skip ALL the folding or just folding in half lengthwise?

    P.s. I love the color of your skirt and how you popped it with the leopard belt!

    Reply
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  35. Hi Janssen,

    Lovely skirt and tutorial. The tulle I want to buy is actually 118 inches wide and my calculations came to 12 yards. Since my tulle is wider do I need to buy less? like 6 yards?

    Many thanks

    Jeorgia

    Reply

  36. So I am guessing your hips are a wee bit narrower than mine! Or your tulle is stretchier.

    I just made this, and despite my tension going haywire on the elastic, I can’t fit it over my hips! Rats!

    I was hoping to use it as a petticoat, but until I can figure out how to get it over my hips it’s a wasted project.

    Reply

  37. Hi thank you so much for the tutorial!!! I was just wondering how many layers this skirt is as I’m trying to make a Queen of Hearts inspired dress.

    Reply

  38. “ Wash, dry and iron your tulle (or make your mom iron it) ”

    This is what stuck out the most for me in this entire post. I’ve worked a LOT with tulle in my years of sewing. It’s best advised to avoid washing tulle at almost any cost. It’s never the same once you do. Most any other fabric, yes, by all means PLEASE prewash and dry as you intend to do with the finished item.

    Bigger than that, however, you suggest the reader should “…make your mom iron it)”. Seriously, my kids get way farther if they ASK me to help them.

    I’m well aware this post is ancient. I do hope your manners have blossomed in the years since. 😉

    Reply

    1. Oh my word, it was totally a joke! We worked on this project together and had a wonderful time doing it.

      Calling out someone on their manners based on one line made in jest feels like . . . not great manners?

      Reply

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