Ballet Style For Dolls + A FREE Doll-Sized Tutu Tutorial

We've put together the ultimate resource guide for making beautiful ballet outfits for dolls, plus a free doll sized tutu tutorial for both 18-inch and 14.5-inch dolls!

Get the look: The leotard in the photo above is made from the LJ Free Swimsuit Pattern!

The Ultimate Pattern Collection For Swim and Dance Costumes

Looking to make a matching girl and doll dance outfit? Love the intricate details of professional ballet costumes, and want to recreate them for your doll? Pixie Faire has the ultimate pattern collection for swim and dance outfits that can help you create those dreamy looks for your doll!

Ballet Accessories For Dolls

Looking to build your doll her own ballet studio? Be sure to check out our free tutorial for a ballet barre that you can make yourself! 

For more ballet accessories, check out these patterns...

FREE Tutorial: How To Make A Doll Sized Tutu!

Looking for a no-sew craft to make for your doll? This tutu goes together pretty quickly, and you can make it in her favorite colors...

This video and the step by step photos demonstrate the technique for making an 18-inch doll tutu, but we've also included the measurements for making a 14.5-inch doll sized version!

This tutorial originally appeared on Pixie Faire in 2014. 

Check out the tutorial in video form here:

All you need is some ribbon, and some tulle. I am using 1/2 yd each of three different colors, but I wanted mine pretty fluffy. :)

Start by cutting the tulle into long strips. I've folded it up, so that one short pass with the rotary cutter yields a single long strip. Using a rotary cutter will save you a lot of headache (tulle can be very slippery!) but be careful. Like any powerful tool, rotary cutters can be dangerous!

For the 18-inch doll size: Cut strips 2-inches wide.

For 14.5-inch doll size: Cut strips 1.5-inches wide.

Next, decide how far out you want your tutu to come.

For the 18-inch doll we made our tutu about 4-inches deep. For the 14.5-inch doll, we chose about 2.5-inches.

When you've determined the depth/length of your tutu, cut a piece of scrap cardboard that length.

Start wrapping one long strip of tulle around the cardboard; when you get to the end, trim off any extra. Then, cut along one side of the wrapped strip, and unfold. You should now have a bundle of strips that are just the right length and width!

For the 18-inch doll size: Your strips will be 2" x 8". You will need about 70 strips.

For 14.5-inch doll size: Your strips will be 1.5" x 5". You will need about 35-45 strips. 

Keep repeating the cardboard cutting method until you have cut up all your tulle. It takes a while, but trust me, this is the easiest way to make it happen. :)

Once your strips are in order, cut a piece of ribbon for the waistband.

Measure the waist of your doll, then add enough extra length to tie the ribbon in a bow. Mark the waist measurement onto the ribbon so you know where your ties will begin. 

For an 18-inch doll: Our ribbon was about 27-inches long.

For a 14.5-inch doll: Our ribbon was about 16-inches long. 

For stability, tie the ribbon around a book or safety pin each end to something sturdy. 

Then, start looping strips of tulle around the ribbon. Fold a group of strips in half, run the loop under the ribbon, then run the ends through the loop. Pull the knot tight.

Start adding tulle at one marking, and work your way around to the other marking. 

The more strips you group together in each knot, the fuller your tutu will be. 

All that's left is to tie it around your doll's waist, and fluff out the tulle a little bit for the most festive look!

This adorable leotard made to fit a WellieWishers™ doll is an easy pattern hack of the LJ T-Shirt Variations pattern. Let us know in the comments if you'd like to see a post full of fun leotard pattern hacks!

We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us -what's your favorite type of music to dance to? 

Thanks, everyone!

The Pixie Faire Team