Inside: Sew a beautiful free dress pattern with short sleeves. The free twirly dress pattern with the flutter sleeve hack. Great free dress pattern for summer.
This is one of my very favorite free dress patterns and now it has a short sleeve version. Of course if you feel comfortable you can always make a long sleeve short or the reverse. I’ve been wanting to make a short sleeve version of the twirly dress since I made the original version. It may have taken me five years to sew it, but here is my free twirly dress short sleeve version.
Free Dress Pattern – Short Sleeve Version
Not only did I create a short sleeve version of the twirly dress, but I also made those sleeves full and fluttery. I love the combination. Do you? the free sewing pattern and link to the tutorial can be found here.
Want to add short sleeves like this?? I’ve got a few tips for creating this look below, but you can also check out my Flutter Sleeve Tutorial Here.
I lengthened this version by adding a 4″ strip of the dot fabric on the bottom of the front and back pieces. I wanted this dress to be long enough to wear without legging for summer. Although I’m sure Rose will be wearing shorties under her dresses all summer. You can find my free short legging pattern here.
How to sew short sleeves on a dress
Grab the Free Twirly Dress Pattern here and let’s get sewing. Cut out the pattern pieces as directed, but do not cut the sleeves.
Trace the size for sleeve you need and stop the sleeve 2″ from the underarm point. You can make the sleeve shorter or longer depending on what you are looking for.
Cut around the traced sleeve and then make two cuts. Spread these open 1″ each and the retrace the new sleeve shape. You can also see how I flared out the bottom, instead of how it originally sloped in.
You could now just hem the sleeve as is.. or you can add the fluttery or lettuce edge. You can do this with a rolled hem on your serger, or just with a zig zag on your sewing machine. Set a narrow, close zig-zag stitch. {1.5 width and .8 length}
Start on one end of the sleeve and sew your zig-zag right on the edge. As you sew, you pull the fabric with both hands. I place on hand behind the foot and pull forward and backward to stretch the fabric as you sew. The more you stretch the more fluttery the edge will look.
I think this look is so cute!! I also finished the bottom of the dress with this same technique.
I also would like to try a more fitted short sleeve version, but for now I think this version is adorable.
Leave a Reply