inside: Sew up a cute ruffled sleeve top or dress with this free PDF pattern. Easy sewing pattern and tutorial to create a beautiful top or dress with ruffled sleeves. Use the provided free pdf pattern for this look.
Sometimes I create one single pattern that can be used to make many many different looks. The kids crop top seems to be that pattern for my daughter. From one simple pattern, I’ve created MANY different looks for her and we love all of these. This ruffled sleeve top/dress is the latest look created from that original pattern. Curious about all the other crop top pattern hacks? See the list below!
Ruffled Sleeve top/dress Free pattern
This pattern hack can be used to create dresses or tops and can be completely customized as well. First let’s look at the dress version I sewed up. I added short ruffles to the sleeves and also a gathered skirt to the top. I prefer a more knee length skirt, but Rose loves the longer dresses, so I made this one a bit longer for her.
The top version of this look has longer sleeve ruffles and just a short ruffle on the bottom to make it less crop. All the ruffles here are 6″ wide, but the sleeves were cut in a different fabric direction than the bottom. Rose loves this top and wore it to school already!
I think both of these look cute with two different fabrics, but of course you could make it all from one fabric as well.
a few silly photos! Scroll down for more pattern hacks from this base pattern as well as how I created this look.
More crop top hacks –
Since releasing this pattern I have use the same top {the crop pattern} to make a few more looks. Check out these… Basic Crop Top, Easy Sweatshirt Hack, Peplum Top Hack, Gathered Sleeve Sweatshirt top and dress, Ruffled Dress {with woven fabric}, BabyDoll Dress, Ruffled knit dress/top
How to sew a ruffled sleeve top or skirt
This is not the most detailed step-by-step photo tutorial. It’s going to be pretty basic, but you can always go back to the original crop top pattern for the more detailed basics.
You will need:
- Crop top free pattern
- 1-2 yards of fabric
- an idea of what you want the ruffles to look like {long, short, full, etc}
Start by sewing one shoulder seam, then adding the neck band. Sew the other shoulder seam. Open up the shoulders so they are a flat edge.
Place the ruffle fabric along the edge of the shoulder. You can make the ruffle 2/3 times as long as the shoulder, depending on how full you want it. I use my serger to gather the fabric. After gathering, sew right sides together to attach the ruffle to the shoulder.
Fold the top with rights sides together and sew the side seam. I left the outer edge of the sleeve unfinished since the knit fabric wont fray. You can add a rolled hem, or narrow hem as needed.
After you sew the side seams you can add a waist ruffle or a full skirt. Not sure how to add a gathered skirt? Check out the tutorial from the babydoll dress made with this same top.
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