Ballet tutu - makers and transport

[JaneDance1904]

Looking for recommendations for good, reasonably priced pancake tutu makers in England for tutu for 12 year old. 
i’m struggling to find one as nobody seems to want to mention where they get theirs made. 🤦‍♀️

[Dancing unicorn]

Haven’t had one made personally, but know someone who used Just Ballet - highly recommend 🩰

[Out-the-other-side]

Check out Bespoke Tutus and Costumes if you are on facebook. 

[academicdancer]

Monica Newell, Bunheads, Needle en Pointe, Bespoke Tutus and Costumes. These are a mix of UK based stretch and traditional tutu makers.

 

If price is a concern there are plenty of wonderful tutus by these and other makers which get sold on 2nd hand at a cheaper price than brand new. Often advertised by the makers or sold on the many costume sale Facebook groups.

[TwoDancers]

This lady is worth looking at.  She has lots ready to go but can make bespoke too if you want

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100059053279498

Edited November 8, 2024 by TwoDancers

[shygirlsmum]

https://www.tutumakersguilduk.co.uk/uk-tutu-makers-by-region
 

There are some amazing tutu makers in the uk

[Pointetoes]

DD had hers made by Handmade by Alison - Tutus and more

She is on Facebook but will booked up well into next year. She does help sell on tutus made by her and they are always in amazing condition.

 

I think the biggest problem you will have is booking a slot in.

[Fallingislearning]

Long time lurker as my daughter is way off the standard of most on here, but this is a question I can answer!

 

I’d like to give another recommendation for Needle en pointe.

 

My daughter had a tutu made by her in the summer.  Laura is brilliant. She took really very vague instructions from us, and turned them into the most gorgeous tutu (see attached). She works astonishingly quickly. 
 

You can see her work on her instagram page (just search for Needle en pointe) and she also has a website.

 

I think she only does Lycra bodices rather than structured ones though. She is based in Kent, near I think Gillingham.

 

edited to add that she sometimes has them ready to wear.

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Fallingislearning
To add another thought

[Jan McNulty]

Hello @Fallingislearning and welcome to the Forum!

[HopelessMummy]

Tessa is amazing. She used to make tutus for the Royal, ENB and others. She's based in Rayleigh and is reasonably priced. DM me for details

[Lena22]

Related tutu question: how are you travelling with tutu if tutu exceeded both carry on and luggage size? 

[Medora]

Send it as oversized baggage in a tutu bag & pray it arrives, or fold and take as a carry on. If anyone has successfully tried any other methods I’m all ears 

[swanprincess]

I know of someone who once explained to the air hostesses that her tutu was very valuable and needed to be handled carefully, so they put the tutu bag in the cockpit!! I don’t imagine every airline would allow this though!

[greycat]

Another vote for Laura at Needle En Pointe. She made a stunning gold and ivory tutu last year, and a matching bun ring. 

[alison]

On 08/01/2025 at 23:19, Medora said:

Send it as oversized baggage in a tutu bag & pray it arrives, or fold and take as a carry on. If anyone has successfully tried any other methods I’m all ears 

 

I think we have a thread on that somewhere ...

[Peanut68]

We’ve basically pushed down on centre of tutu til it goes inside out  into a cone shape with skirt up around bodice if it’s a full tutu. It should kind of fold up on itself - pretty much will fold into a quarter circle. & then put this into a long handled fabric tote bag - the edges of net skirt will probs poke out of top - and take as carry on luggage. Works well for plain tutus. If yours is highly decorated/beaded etc then I’d lay a few layers of tissue over the top of the skirt first & try manipulate the ‘folded’ shape around any specific embellishments. 
Good luck! 

[Macy1]

On 23/12/2024 at 04:04, Lena22 said:

Related tutu question: how are you travelling with tutu if tutu exceeded both carry on and luggage size? 

When we travelled for dance World Cup we laid bodice flat then gently fold tutu skirt to basically resemble a pizza wedge. Wrap in a bin liner to protect from accidental spills/rain. This fitted nicely into one of those primark large zip up bags which was within our hand baggage size allowance so we got to carry on plane and look after it. Put by feet so no squashing in overhead lockers. Take out as soon as you get there into it's normal carrier. All of them (40+) we did this way were absolutely fine

[Lena22]

We travelled yesterday from London Luton by Ryanair. It was smooth through security control and at the gate but during the flight the staff was quite rude and said we should be stopped before boarding because of the size of tutu. 

The flight was half empty, two empty spaces  near me, so no problem to find a place but attitude 🥴

[Peanut68]

On 14/01/2025 at 12:19, Macy1 said:

t then gently fold tutu skirt to basically resemble a pizza wedge

Yes - a pizza wedge - perfect way to describe what I poorly managed!!