Stretch tutus are a great choice for younger dancers who are just starting to enter competitions and are growing quickly. Stretch tutus will generally last for 2 seasons.
My tutus are made from stiff Italian ballet net and stretch fabrics such as lycra or stretch velvet. The bodices are lined to give a firm fit and dancer confidence. The tutu skirt has 7-8 layers of net that are tacked together with nylon tags to give the iconic tutu shape with a gentle slope from the high hip to the edge of the tutu skirt. I like to vary the colours in the skirt, even if the colours are just subtle shades of each other, as I think this gives some life to the skirt.
A basic competition-ready tutu starts at $350 and includes a lined bodice, 7-8 layer skirt and appliques for the bodice. Other features and their prices are listed below although there may be variation for some fabrics or embellishment techniques:
Nude insert $25
Beading or rhinestones on bodice and skirt appliques from $25
Simple plate $25
Intricate plates from $50
Spanish 3-4 tiered ruffle plates from $75
Lace overlay from $25
Scalloped or feathered edges to net $25
Arm puffs/frills or sleeves from $25
Custom dyed net from $25
Corselet style bodice $50
Faux corset lacing $25
other customised options POA
The tutu illustrated is an eisteddfod-ready costume and features a nude insert, a plate, lace overlay, rhinestones and beading on appliques, arm puffs and feathered net. It would cost $500.
Hello, I’m wondering how I go about asking questions before an order.
Thanks,
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
Just tidying up my blog. We’ve chatted about a tutu offline. Let me know if you need any further information
Hello,
I am absolutely awe struck by the beautiful tutus you make. I am from South Africa and I own a shop that sells dance wear and I do ballet myself. I would however like to make my own tutus. I currently import my training tutus for my shop from China. They have 8 layers of netting and a lycra basque.
Besides attempting to copy the tututus I import I have never had any formal training in the art of making a traditional/classical tutu.
I would be so grateful if you could give me some pointers on how to make these masterpieces. I have been professionally trained in sewing, so I do know my way around a sewing machine.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
My sincerest regards,
Linda
Thanks for the kind comments Linda. There are a lot of good patterns around now and with professional sewing skills it won’t take much of a shift in perspective to go from streetwear to stagewear. I almost exclusively use patterns from Suzanne Dieckmann (Tutus That Dance) and Danielle Legge (Tutus by Dani). There are other patterns around but I find these 2 pattern makers have really captured the essentials of beautiful line in traditional and stretch tutus respectively. I’ll PM you.
cheers
B