Table of Contents
Video reference: “Working While Sick & Mini Tutu Creation” by the channel’s creator.
Running a home craft business isn’t always glossy. Sometimes the embroidery machine hums while you fight the flu, and a tiny 0–3 month tutu becomes the bright spot that keeps you going. This guide turns that real world day—tutus, shirts, blankets, and all—into a clear, step-by-step playbook you can use without guesswork.
What you’ll learn
- How to plan a newborn-size tutu using ribbon and tulle, and why attaching ribbon first gives the fluff you see in the final piece.
- How to pace work when you’re sick so orders still move without burning out.
- How to stage embroidery items so your machine keeps stitching while you prep.
- Practical checks to spot issues early: stitch neatness, edge consistency, and overall fluff.
Primer (What & When) A tiny 0–3 month tutu is essentially a fluffy ring of tulle with ribbon attached by machine. In the workshop day covered here, the creator had multiple orders queued—tutus, shirts, and blankets—and she completed a newborn-size tutu while running an embroidery machine on a blanket in the background. The piece is extraordinarily small, “almost like a scrunchie,” and very fluffy, which comes from attaching ribbon to the tulle and keeping the stitching neat and even.
Where it applies
- Newborn photo outfits and tiny celebratory looks.
- Coordinated sets alongside embroidered blankets or simple shirts.
Constraints to respect
- No exact measurements are used here; focus on sequence and checks.
- Workload pacing matters—health comes first. The creator was recovering from the flu (COVID test negative) and still moved orders forward in shorter, realistic bursts.
Quick check
- You should be able to describe, in your own words, the flow: attach ribbon to tulle at the machine → shape into the tiny, fluffy ring → verify even stitching and overall poof.
Prep Tools and materials on the table in this workflow - Sewing machine (used to attach ribbon to tulle).
- Embroidery machine (seen stitching a blanket during the same work session).
- Tulle (stack of pink tulle staged for multiple tutus).
- Ribbon (colors shown include teal, purple, and pink accents).
- Fabric (for embroidery items such as blankets and shirts).
Workspace
- A craft room with room for a sewing machine and an embroidery machine. Keep surfaces clear so you can shift from tutu to embroidery without losing track of parts.
Health and pacing
- The creator worked across two to three days while feeling unwell, keeping expectations realistic: “Get what I can get done, and what I can’t, I can’t.”
Decision point: batching
- If you have several tutus: stage tulle colors and ribbon first; batch the ribbon-attachment passes.
- If embroidery is in the queue: stage a blanket or shirt so the machine can run while you prep the tutu.
Checklist — Prep
- Sewing machine threaded and tested on scrap tulle.
- Ribbon colors chosen and within reach.
- Tulle stacked for the day’s pieces.
- Embroidery blank(s) hooped and ready, or staged nearby.
Setup Machine readiness
- On the sewing machine, verify that the feed is consistent over delicate tulle; the creator visually checked machine operation before proceeding. A calm, steady feed matters more than speed.
Material staging - Lay ribbon near the needle path and keep tulle smooth and supported. The neat edge seen in the final tutu comes from clean feeding while attaching ribbon.
Embroidery staging
- With multiple orders across blankets and shirts, it helps to keep the embroidery machine working while you assemble the tutu. Place the next blank and thread nearby so you can swap quickly.
Watch out
- Fatigue can affect work efficiency and decision-making. If you’re sick, set short sessions with breaks and stop before mistakes start multiplying.
Checklist — Setup
- Test seam on a tulle off-cut with your ribbon.
- Clear a small landing zone for the finished tutu.
- Stage one embroidery blank in the machine, one within arm’s reach.
Operation: Make the Mini Tutu The defining step is attaching ribbon to tulle at the sewing machine. This is what gives the tutu its polished, fluffy edge and what makes the tiny newborn size read as “finished” rather than raw.
1) Stage color and edge
- Choose your ribbon color combination. The creator showcased teal and purple ribbon on tulle, which photographed beautifully in the final piece.
- Smooth the tulle so the ribbon edge sits consistently at the needle.
- Expected result: the first pass yields a clean, even line with ribbon lying flat over tulle.
Pro tip - Keep your hands relaxed and your eyes on the ribbon-to-tulle edge, not the needle. That visual alignment is what produces the neat edge you see in the extreme close-up.
2) Attach ribbon to tulle with steady feeding - Feed the materials at a calm pace, letting the machine do the work. The creator emphasized neatness by showing a tight, even edge up close.
- Expected result: a smooth, continuous edge with consistent stitching and no gathers where you don’t want them.
Quick check - Pause and inspect: Does the ribbon track parallel to the tulle edge? In the finished close-ups, the stitches run neat and straight without wandering.
3) Form the tiny ring - Newborn-size is very small—“almost like a scrunchie.” As you finish attaching ribbon, handle the piece gently so it keeps its fluffy volume.
- Expected result: a compact, rounded ring with even fluff and no collapsed sections.
4) Fluff and finish - Give the tutu a light shake and a gentle pass with your fingers to separate layers, revealing the plush halo you see on the work table.
- Expected result: fluffy, uniform volume; ribbon edge looks polished all the way around.
Checklist — Operation (Tutu)
- Ribbon-to-tulle edge is even and neat.
- The ring shape looks scrunchie-small but full.
- No obvious thin spots; the halo looks consistent.
Operation: Keep the Embroidery Queue Moving This workday included blankets, shirts, and more tutus. While finishing the tiny tutu at the sewing machine, the embroidery machine stitched a blanket. That parallel progress is your friend—especially when you’re sick and need to make every short session count.
1) Prioritize the machine that runs unattended
- If your embroidery machine is already hooped and safe to run, kick that off first so it can stitch while you assemble the tutu.
- Expected result: the embroidery machine hums in the background, finishing a blanket or shirt while you work at the sewing station.
2) Stage the next blank
- Keep the next fabric blank within reach so you can minimize downtime between embroidery items.
- Expected result: quick swap-over without hunting for supplies.
3) Balance energy and output - The creator’s pacing across several days—four tutus, four shirts, and three blankets on one day—demonstrates realistic batching under the weather. It’s okay to limit scope and call it done for the day.
Watch out
- Pushing while sick can lead to rework. If your eyes feel strained or your hands are shaky, take a break rather than forcing another pass.
Checklist — Operation (Embroidery)
- One item is actively stitching.
- Next blank staged with thread nearby.
- You’ve set a realistic stopping point for this session.
Quality Checks These are the quick visuals the creator highlighted—in close-ups and final reveals.
For the tutu - Edge consistency: In the extreme close-up, stitches align cleanly along the ribbon edge, with no wobbling.
- Overall halo: On the machine bed, the tutu looks full and balanced—no thin gaps.
- Scale: When held up, the tutu reads distinctly tiny; that proportion is part of the appeal.
For the embroidery item - While the blanket stitches, confirm thread behavior looks steady and the machine sounds smooth.
Quick check - If the tutu looks “scrunchie-small” but still fluffy when you set it down next to thread, you’re there.
Results & Handoff What you can expect when you finish this workflow - A newborn-size tutu that looks fluffy and polished, with ribbon neatly attached to tulle.
- One or more embroidery items progressed or completed in the background, such as a blanket.
- A realistic list for the next session—because adulting means stopping at a sensible point and picking up tomorrow.
Packaging and pairing ideas (no measurements required)
- Pair the tutu with a simple shirt or an embroidered blanket for a giftable set.
- Photograph the tutu alone on the machine bed or in-hand for scale; the tiny size is a selling point.
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom → Likely cause → Fix
- Ribbon edge looks wavy → Inconsistent hand guidance on tulle → Slow your feed and keep eyes on the ribbon-to-tulle alignment.
- Halo looks thin or uneven → Layers stuck together → Gently separate and fluff by hand; set down and reassess.
- Work stalls because you’re exhausted → Illness and overextension → Cap your session; pick three tasks max (one embroidery item, one tutu pass, one tidy-up), then rest.
Pro tip
- Stage tomorrow’s first 10 minutes before you stop: set ribbon at the machine and place the next embroidery blank nearby. You’ll start faster and avoid early-day decision fatigue.
From the comments Community notes and requests from viewers of this workday
- Health and encouragement: Many cheered recovery and shared that flu and colds were going around. That’s your cue to plan shorter sessions and hydrate between passes.
- Project ideas: One suggestion was to offer infant diaper covers embroidered on the back for cute sleeping photos—an idea you can evaluate alongside your tutu-and-blanket sets.
- Tutorial request: A step-by-step applique walkthrough was requested for a future project; consider adding it to your content plan.
- Trend scouting: Another idea was to cover what’s trending on Etsy, avoiding nightmare orders, and testing new products—helpful prompts for planning your next batch of content.
Watch out
- New product ideas are exciting, but add them only when your core queue is stable. Finish current tutus, shirts, and blankets first; then prototype the next thing.
A note on tools and accessories Your exact tools may differ. In this workflow, a sewing machine attached ribbon to tulle, and an embroidery machine stitched a blanket. If you work in embroidery-heavy shops, you might also field questions about accessories or platforms. Some readers use or research items like brother embroidery machine in their own studios, while others explore options such as magnetic hoops for embroidery machines or even embroidery hoops magnetic for specific setups. Keep your decisions tied to your actual projects and comfort level.
Equipment curiosity, handled with care Because this day focused on ribbon-to-tulle sewing and an embroidery machine stitching a blanket, the best upgrade is the one that helps you stage and pace more calmly. Some crafters like fixture-style platforms such as a hoop master embroidery hooping station for repeatable placements; others look into frame variations like a dime snap hoop or simply stay with what they already know. Match tools to your workload and the kinds of items you stitch most.
Beginner-friendly perspective If you’re newer to this kind of workflow, the combo of a basic sewing station and an embroidery station covers a lot of ground. Many people just starting out look up terms like embroidery machine for beginners or tune their current brother sewing machine to handle delicate tulle more comfortably. Focus on clean feeding, sensible batching, and neat edges—those habits beat gear-chasing when you’re still building your groove.
Quick check
- Can you summarize tomorrow’s first 30 minutes? For example: stage one embroidery blank, set ribbon at the needle, fluff the previous tutu for a final look, then stop before fatigue hits.
Closing morale boost This day ended with a finished tiny tutu, a blanket stitching in the background, and a realistic plan for the next orders. Bigger projects can wait until you feel better. The point is progress with care, not perfection on a bad day.