Learn to make a flutter sleeve peasant top for your little girl with this free pattern and tutorial. This top is a lovely basic, and a wonderful addition to any girl’s summer wardrobe.
You’ll be amazed how quickly this peasant top/dress comes together. Also, you only need basic sewing skills for this fun and simple project. You can honestly have this one finished in 30 minutes – or, let’s say, one hour if you are a complete novice.
Related: The peasant top pattern drafting shortcut everyone should know
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Because it has no buttons, zippers, or snaps, you don’t need to have extensive sewing knowledge for this project. The neckline is elastic and stretches, so it’s an easy on/easy off garment.
I made this peasant style top with flutter sleeves for my (almost) 3-year-old daughter, and we all love it! It’s comfy and cute, and easy to coordinate with different colors of shorts or pants.
You can make this in various lengths – it looks great as a top, but also as a dress above the knee/below the knee.
Easy DIY flutter sleeve peasant top
If you make it in a bold color and a playful cotton print, you’re sure to get a ton of wear and joy out of this versatile item.
I love kids’ clothes that are simple, beautiful, and comfortable. This is a lovely basic that is great for everyday wear in summer, and the flutter sleeves add a perfect touch of style.
Related: Looking for a fun and educational activity for your little ones? Try this free maze generator for kids – customizable mazes that will entertain and engage young minds!
Ready to sew this simple variation of the basic peasant top?
I drafted a free sewing pattern for girls in size 3T that you can download and use to create your own lovely flutter sleeve top.
Note – this pattern is for personal use only. I think it’s obvious for everyone that this pattern is drafted by hand (and that I am not a professional pattern-maker), however, it fits my 3-years-old daughter perfectly, as you can see from the photos/Youtube video. She is 36 1/2 inches tall right now, the flutter sleeve peasant top allows enough freedom of movement, and I hope she’ll wear it for at least one year.
Related: Long sleeve peasant top for little girls (+free pattern)
Sewing supplies
- Girls’ peasant top with flutter sleeves – PDF pattern available above- size 3T. Make sure you print it at 100% or “actual size”.
- ½ yard of fabric – cotton, linen, muslin
- ¼” elastic (I used 18″ for a 3T size)
- sewing machine
- needle
- matching thread
- sewing pins
- fabric scissors
- safety pin
How to make a peasant top with flutter sleeves
Step 1
Line up the pattern pieces on the fold of your fabric and cut.
The bodice is composed of three pieces – part 1, part 2, and part 3. Here’s how to assemble the pattern:
Once cut, your folded pieces should look like this – two bodice pieces and two sleeve pieces.
TIP
If you plan on making a peasant-style dress with flutter sleeves, just measure your little girl from the bottom of her armpit to where you would like the dress to end, then add 1” to this measurement.
Lengthen your pattern piece accordingly. Make sure when you add extra length at the bottom to follow the edge of the pattern and get a subtle A-line shape.
Step 2 – Hem the sleeves
Serge the bottom edge, then turn the edge under 1/4”, press and sew. Repeat on the second sleeve.
Step 3
With the right sides together, match one sleeve and the bodice back. The raw edges should be facing up towards the top of the peasant top. Sew the sleeve to the bodice, with a 3/8” seam allowance, then repeat with the second sleeve.
Now line the sleeve edges up on the bodice front like shown in the below picture. We are already able to see the peasant top come together.
Step 4
Serge all four armholes.
Then turn the edge to the wrong side of the peasant top, and stitch it down. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end.
The armholes are now finished.
Step 5
Now place the bodice pieces right sides together and sew down the sides, from the hem to the bottom of the armhole.
Then serge the side seams, and while you’re at it, also serge the top and the bottom edges of the peasant top.
Step 6 – Let’s form the top casing.
Fold the top edge over 1/2″ and press, then pin and sew 3/8” from the folded edge. Be sure to leave about 1/2″ opening so that you can feed your elastic.
This casing goes all the way around the neckline and shoulders and this is where we’ll insert our 1/4” elastic – I used a safety pin to thread elastic through it. Overlap the elastic ends and stitch them together to form a circle.
Step 7
Fold the serged hem up 1” and pin in place. I used a wide hem to give some shape to the bottom of my peasant top, but if you want a narrow hem, that’s fine too.
Make sure the hem is even around the peasant top. Stitch the hem close to the serged edge.
Give your little peasant top a good press and you’re done!
Have fun making lots of peasant tops/dresses with flutter sleeves!
If you use my tutorials or patterns I would love to see what you are making, so please share a photo on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram!
So, here’s how my lovely peasant top looks in action.
I keep signing up to get the free pdf download but it doesn’t work. Please tell me how do I get this pattern so I can print it and make it? Thank you! Cathy
Does this pattern have seams and turn down for neck elastic included or do you add on wnen cutting out.
..if included..how much have you allowed. Thank you
Hey Dizee,
Yes, the pattern has a 3/8″ seam allowance included, I forgot to mention it in the post, sorry!
This is an adorable top. I love it!
I was wondering if there is a way to figure out how to make this larger (for up to size 8-10 or smaller like a 18mos?
Thank you
Thank you, Shannon!
Yes, there is! You just have to use the armhole curve of an existing t-shirt. Please see my latest blog posts – this is the method I used, explained in detail https://icansewthis.com/peasant-top-pattern/ and here I show exactly how I made 4 different tops https://icansewthis.com/peasant-top-pattern-ideas/
Hope this helps!
Honey your tutorial is by far the best darn one yet! And believe me I have started several and couldn’t understand their directions so had to rig the project up best I could. Obviously I’m a beginner besides a high school class 20 years ago. Lol so thank you for the visual and great instructions and the time u put in !!!xoxo
Amber, thank you so much! Your amazing comment made my day! Much love to you!
Also, have you seen my latest posts? I think I’ve finally cracked the code – a cute little shortcut to make peasant tops (with flutter sleeves, off-shoulder, or any style, really) in any size you want! I’m so excited about this finding! I can only hope I managed to explain things clearly there as well.
Thanks for the pattern . I haven’t sewn in years . This was easy and it has inspired me to do more with my old hobby. Made this one for my youngest granddaughter.
Hey Susie,
Sorry I missed your comment, somehow… Thank you so much for the kind words! Sewing really is a great hobby. <3
Thank you so much for this amazing pattern and tutorial! It’s so simple I’ve made 3 different dresses for my little two year old already! I’ve even made one with ruffles at the bottom of a dress! I’m so excited to make more and get even more creative with your pattern. Thanks so much again!
Thank you very much , it is just what I am looking for. THANKS. Have a beautiful day
👏🏻❤️
I wish this was a size 2 and measurements for a dress.
Hi Barbara,
So, this pattern is for size 3, and you want a size 2. I would simply try to scale down and print the pattern at maybe 98%. 🙂 Take this with a grain of salt, of course, but I tried this method many times with different patterns when my kids were smaller (I didn’t make spectacular changes to any pattern, as in going from 100% to 73%, but a difference of (+/-) 2-3% is sometimes all you need).
I don’t know how to professionally grade patterns, I’m sorry – I simply draw mine the old-fashion way, the pencil on a paper sheet. I’m just winging it, most of the time. The peasant top pattern is very forgiving anyway. Also, the approx. length for a 2yo toddler dress is 19 inches from shoulder to hem (you can look for size charts on Google). I hope you make that dress – I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. 🙂
Very lovely and I love the fabric. What was your source for the fabric. Adorable
Hi Karin,
Thank you! 🙂 I’m from Romania and I usually buy from local fabric stores, albeit online. I searched for this particular fabric, and I can’t find it online anymore – this is the only place where it appears https://www.mapetitemercerie.com/en/poppy/82970-poppy-poplin-cotton-fabric-fuchsia-pink-tropical-x-10cm.html but it’s no longer in stock. It’s made by a fabric designer named Poppy.
Thank you so much for this pattern it is simply gorgeous, easy as Thank again
just wondering how much elastic do you put into the neck. I love this pattern how do you downsize love to make it for my 18month granddaughter. I’ve only just starting sewing
I forgot to ask you if you know how to resize it like from a 3 to a 5 or7
I took one of my daughter’s size 7 shirts with a similar silhouette and extended the bodice pattern out to that s
hirt’s seams and added a couple of inches to the flutter sleeves. I added 1 inch of elastic for every size up (and I think I could have addes 2 inches for every size up). It turned out really well and it was very easy. Good luck!
Hi, I love the pattern. I don’t have any little girls & my granddaughter is 3o years old so because I love to sew & I have all kinds of material because i sew for a dance group but since I am quarantined I am not making costumes so I have been downloading little girls dress patterns and sewing them up & giving them away to anybody that has a child that it will fit. It is really good for me as it keeps me busy & I like to create things. So thank you for your pattern.
Hi all! Thank you so much for your comments.
I made this top for my 3-years-old daughter – she is 36 ½ inches (93 cm) tall right now.
Unfortunately, I don’t know how to make digital patterns, at least not yet. I usually draw my patterns on A3 size sheets (that’s my oldest daughter’s drawing block) then I transfer them to A4 sheets using a simple pen, then I scan the pages in one document so that you can download and print them at home. It is pretty rudimentary, I’m fully aware, and I’m working on it.
I’ll check the armhole line, and I promise to update the pattern ASAP.
What size is the cute top for. Also there is no pattern measurements to cut out for the top.
Hi Dolores,
I updated the pattern, this is how it should look like once assembled:
https://static.icansewthis.com/2020/07/flutter-sleeve-top-pattern-aseembly-889×1024.jpg
It’s for 3-years-old girls, my daughter is exactly 36 1/2″ / 93cm tall right now.
I downloaded the pattern, but it does not match the pictures. The bodice pieces do not have the curve cut out for the armholes. It is really cute; would love to make one for my niece, but I don’t know how to cut out a curve for the armhole.
Hi Barbara,
I updated the pattern, this is how it should look like once assembled:
https://static.icansewthis.com/2020/07/flutter-sleeve-top-pattern-aseembly-889×1024.jpg
I love that top. I’m sure Mom made some of these for me, long, long ago. Approximately how much would I need to increase for a 5 or 6-year old? She definitely needs breezy tops in the South.
I just love this little top. I would like to make it for my granddaughter . I am having trouble with the PDF file. The sleeve come out ok, but the body is just a small rectangle . Could you send me the dimensions for the body with cut out for the arm holes?
Thank you
Laurie Pangborn
Hi Laurie,
I updated the pattern and the article. This is how the pattern should look like once assembled. https://static.icansewthis.com/2020/07/flutter-sleeve-top-pattern-aseembly-889×1024.jpg
I don’t know how to give you those dimensions, I’m sorry… I usually just draw by hand and place my pattern against existing items of clothing. Then I do some basic measurements on my kids, like chest size, shirt length etc., to make sure they won’t outgrow my handmade clothes too fast, otherwise I’d feel like I wasted beautiful fabric and I would hate that.
What a cute top! And I adore your fabric choice. Will have to make one of these for my little girl!