my girls won't wear jeans.
ever.
jeans bug them.
all dresses and skirts all the time.

so how can I sneak them into a pair of jeans?
make a tutu of course.

what's more american than a 
red white and blue denim tutu?
I have a three pack of firecrackers who will be
tutu-ing it up come this fourth.

You can too.  Easy and inexpensive.  Promise.

Supplies:
Jeans you don't mind cutting up.
Three yards of tulle
(I am making a 5T.  You  may need more or 
less, depending on the size.)
Denim needle for your sewing machine
1 inch grosgrain ribbon

First cut the waistband and belt loops off of the jeans.
If your jeans have elastic, remove that as well.
Cut a piece of ribbon the same length.
Use a lighter to seal the ends of the ribbon.


Cut the tulle into twelve inch pieces.
You will have three per color.
Or nine total if you are using one solid color.


Open up the tulle.
Sew a gathering stitch along the entire long side.
For my machine I use zero tension and a stitch length of 5.
Make sure NOT to backstitch on either end.


Don't let the pile of tulle attack your assistant.


Because she attacks back.


This is what the gathering stitches look like.


Pull the bottom thread on one side and 
gather the tulle until it looks like this.


Pin each gathered section of tulle to the 
ribbon in the your desired color combo.


Here is what it looks like from the other side.


Switch to normal tension and stitch length on your machine.
I use a fairly big zig zag stitch to make sure 
the threads grab all of the crazy tulle.
Stitch down the entire length of the ribbon.


My assistant thinks you are doing a great job!


Pin the ribbon to the inside of the denim 
waistband with the messy side down.


Fold in the ribbon where the button goes.


Sew a straight stitch along the legnth of the waistband.
Clip stray threads.
Done!!!


A certain firecracker had no interest in working today.


She was not feeling patriotic.
The only freedom she was interested in was 
freedom from her mother's photoshoot.


But a little candy got a semi smile out of her.

(You can find instructions for the tank here
and grab a headband here.)





86 Comments

  1. So adorable. I would love to make one but I know that I would have to have you sit next to me and show me step by step.

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  2. Sooooo love it! You think Size 14 in womens is too large?

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  3. OMG, I'm in looooove! You're so creative, Julie! Hmm...I've got plenty of jeans to cut up, but what are the chaces I could learn to sew by the 4th?! LOL!

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  4. Oh my goodness! That is soooo getting copied. Thanks for the idea!

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  6. I think that is the cutest little assistant I have ever seen. Awesome tutorial!

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  7. TUTU Cute! I love these and I wonder if I can crank out 2 before the 4th!?!?! Hmm, better go fabric shopping!

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  8. I love that pic of Janey grabbing the tulle! cracks me up!

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  9. I would love to make this but not enough time for me. Maybe next year! (Love the assistant!)

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  10. Oh my this is so cute! I love the entire outfit. Maybe I can pull it off by next week.

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  11. super cute idea! :) love it.

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  12. If only I had a girl. Love love love them! Someday maybe. Maybe for my neice next year when she is a wee bit bigger. You seriously are such a fun Mom! And I bet that firecracker will be LOVING to show it off on the 4th of July!

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  13. Here is me being INSANELY jealous of all your amazing talent! My sweet girl would look DARLING in one of those. If only I knew how to sew...

    TUTU cute for sure!

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  14. very cute! i think I might make one for Canada Day (July 1st)

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  15. Cute pictures! The reluctant model in your photoshoot did a great job. :-)

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  16. what an absolutely fantastic idea! It took me a while to realize (6 pairs of jeans later)that one of my daughters WILL NOT wear jeans either. That is a great use for them!

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  18. Your pictures are great. :) And putting the tulle skirt on a jean waistband is ingenious!!! You're brilliant. :)

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  19. if only I had the time as well... I have plenty of jeans!! I can't wait to try this idea out. Thanks julie!

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  20. Ok, that is tutu cute (ha ha!!!) I love it!

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  21. What a cute idea! I like your way of gathering the tulle. I've made a tutu before by knotting it on elastic, and I really didn't like how it turned out.

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  22. I have a question: How do you get this on? Does it close at the snaps? Or do you slip it on?

    It doesn't look like it is open at the snaps in front, but I would think it would be hard to slide on a non-elastic tutu.

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  23. Very cute!!! Love your assistant. My girls wont wear jeans either but I'm sewing machine challenged so I will just have to drool over your creations :)

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  24. Darling, darling, darling! And your assistants? D-A-R-L-I-N-G!

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  25. Does your baby ever frown? Even when she's in attack mode she is smiling!

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  26. oh my gosh...i so just called you joy....

    JULIE....

    I swear I know your name...i am so blaming it on my baby blues brain mushiness...somebody slap me...

    (sorry)

    but it really is a very cute tutu!

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  27. SO adorable! I love how you used jeans for the waistband!

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  28. Too adorable!!! I can't wait to have kids of my own and make some adorable outfits like that! (hopefully I have girls so I can play dress up!!)

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  29. Thanks for the tut. Very sweet - here is a question. Any tip on washing tule?

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  30. from the vintage pearl...love the
    4th of july tutu!!!

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  31. What a cute tutu! I know my friends little girly girl would love that!

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  32. Oh that is SO CUTE!! I'm with your girls, I would actually rather where dresses everyday too. But, I have to admit - that some days, I DO enjoy wearing my jeans :)

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  33. Your 'assistant' is too cute! I have the perfect assistant, too, now I just need to learn how to sew! :) What a great tutorial, thanks!

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  34. What a great idea!! You are so crafty!! Love it.

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  35. Very cute! What a great project! My girls didn't like jeans either - I think it's from those years of wearing easy up-and-down pants while potty training! Imagine my oldest daughter's chagrin when I told her she had to start wearing jeans because I couldn't find anything but jeans at the store last fall for 9 year olds.

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  36. I love it! And, I love that candy can make your lil flash such a sweet smile!

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  37. Love the patriotic style! So cute!

    heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com

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  38. What a fun tutorial! I'm linking up to you from the Vintage Pearl, hoping to win one of your sweet flower clips for my daughter. I LOVE them. Too cute! (and your daughters are too cute modeling them!)

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  39. Great idea! I am going to make one right away!! I love your etsy shop! Great stuff! :)

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  40. you have the cutest little firecrackers around!

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  41. Found you through vintage pearl and I'm glad I did...love that tutu!!

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  42. I love your tutu idea!! Super cute!!

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  43. Love this...making it this weekend. I so saw you on Momtog and bookmarked you, then my computer crashed and I hadn't found you again, yet!! Now I have! I have 2 firecrackers that enjoy their tutus as well.

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  44. cute idea.
    i'm glad to see your employees don't always cooperate too. :-)

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  45. OMGOSH this is the cutest tutu I have seen! I found your blog from Erin and your etsy shop- your stuff is awesome!!

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  46. Your girls are TOO MUCH! Simply adorable!!!

    Love the tutu too!

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  47. i've recently started reading your blog...and then saw you had a giveaway at vintage pearl!! i so hope i win! i so had to show some blog love to you!!
    love your style girl...

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  48. so very creative!

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  49. Oh my gosh! Thank you for the amazing tutorial. And your messy flowers are just GORGEOUS! I may need one to celebrate July 4th! :o)

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  50. Cute - thanks for the tutorial!

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  51. Love it...you are SO creative! I wish I had an oz of your creativity!

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  52. SO adorable! I came here from Vintage Pearl... love your work! :-)

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  53. Cute idea to use a waistband from a pair of pants!

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  54. I love your blog! Your girls are BEYOND precious!

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  55. What an adorable idea. Know if only I knew how to use a sewing machine :)

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  56. How nice of you to share this tutorial. I made one for each of Da'Gorgeouses for their 3rd birthday, it wasn't sewn like this one, but it was a BIG hit!

    Hugs & Blessings!

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  57. so stinkin' cute!!! i love your stuff and the tutorial.

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  58. The Vintage Pearl sent me your way! I love your signs and super cute tutu!!

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  59. What a great blog...I LOVE the bows and the simple signs. Could you do names? Great work :)

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  60. That's great! My 5 year old sister would love that. Thanks for the instructions and such! =)

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  61. very cute. I entered your giveaway on Vintage pearl.

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  62. So adorable. I wish I was that talented.

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  63. I love the tutu idea, and the entire patriotic outfit is adorable!!

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  64. This is so cute...Your headbands are way cute too.

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  65. Oh my Gosh this is so very cute!

    ;-)

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  66. LOVE your blog, I will be bookmarking the pattern for the tutu!!

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  67. You, darling, are one of the most talented and creative women that I have known! Well, I don't know you, but you know what I mean :)

    LOVE it!! Wow. It's gorgeous!!

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  68. I love your 4th of July outfit, so cute!!

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  69. Sew fun!!! I love all of your stuff!!!

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  70. That is such a cool idea. I know my daughter would have been in love with that when she was younger. Red, white and blue are her favorite colors. Soooo neat and creative. I am jealous.

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  71. I hope my daughter is a "girly girl" and only wants to wear dresses and skirts! The tutu is adorable!

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  72. so cute- I'll have to keep these directions for when my little pumpkin gets a bit older!
    thanks

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  73. Oh my gosh this is soooo adorable! I am really wishing I had a daughter to make one for. Don't think the 4 boys would appreciate it. :)

    Just found your blog and I am loving it!

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  74. I just adore this. My daughter is 2 months old & I cannot wait to make her one of these.

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  75. Ya see. Projects like this make me wish I had a little girl.

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  76. That is an absolutely darling outfit! I linked to this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

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  77. Thanks for the inspiration...posted pictures on my blog today: www.whatcanmakemefeelthisway.blogspot.com

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  78. Wow! A jean waistband and a tutu? Brilliant! I am linking back to you at my blog! Thanks!

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  79. I have been looking every for intructions to make these..

    Thank you !!

    Now I'm off to search ebay for CHEAP jeans to cut up !!

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  80. What a great idea. I am sewing challenged and I think I could actually make this . Thanks for making it look so easy. OHHHHH and your assistant is BEAUTIFUL.

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