Funky 80's and those Fluro Tutus

Please do not pin the photo of my daughter, you are welcome to pin any other part of the tutorial. Thank you :)

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You might be too young to remember the fashion of the 80's? I was in middle/high school at the time and I loved the clothes. The pink, yellow, green and orange fluro. The big, bushy hair with the teased fringe and gelled back sides. ahhhh... those were the days... and the music... loved the 80's music!

This week is all about the 80's at my daughter's school as the high schoolers showcase their talents nightly at the bi-annual school musical.  For one day, everyone gets to dress up 80's style, and of course this sewing-mad-mother saw the opportunity to create something fun ;-)

No, I didn't make the socks but I did suggest that she wear different coloured socks. And it's not just because the laundry basket's overflowing and I couldn't find the other pink one!  My contribution to her funky ensemble was the pink frilly skirt and matching scrunchie.  It's been a while since I made a "tutu" but this one turned out to be a cinch since the lycra and bridal tulle edges don't fray. Thus no need for my ever temperamental overlocker! 

She didn't want the skirt too short, so I decided to make it into three layers.  For the whole skirt, you basically need 9 strips of fabric.  3 Strips of the Lycra to make up the ruffles, 3 strips of Tulle the same length as the ruffles and another 3 strips of Lycra that acts as the interconnecting pieces that holds everything together.  It's simple maths. For the 3 interconnecting strips, simply multiply the waist circumference by 1.5 and for the ruffle strips multiply that sum by 2.  To calculate the length, just measure from waist down to the length you want the skirt to be and divide by 3.

For example - 27.5 inch waist measurement x 1.5 = 41.25 - this is the width of the interconnecting strips. Then to calculate the ruffles it's simply 41.25 x 2 = 82.5 inches.  If you want the skirt to be more puffy, just make the calculation x 3.  The skirt is held up with elastic - cut that piece width as the waist measurement plus another inch added. If you work with fabric that needs to be hemmed, make sure to add a bit more to your length measurements. I've cut my strips each to be 5.5 inches.

The next step is to stitch the ends of each of the 3 interconnecting strips together.

Next, I placed the Tulle and the Lycra for the ruffles together, gathered to match the width of each interconnecting strip and sewed the end of each ruffle strip together.

Pin 1 interconnecting piece over the ruffled piece and stitch together. 

Then fold up the interconnecting piece, iron and pin the next ruffle over the piece. Another interconnecting piece goes over the ruffle, pin, sew and iron. It's just repeating the basics :)

The final interconnecting piece folds over for you to insert the elastic and you're done!  One very cute fluro "tutu" :)

Match with a cute t-shirt, accessorise and enjoy!