The Butterfly Top is the perfect top for your little one to flit about in:)
The flutter sleeves keep shoulders protected from the sun without making your kiddo too hot- no extra fabric bunching up under the arms. And for my butterfly lover I appliqued on a bunch of cheerful little butterflies:)
And the elastic neck hole makes this top super easy to get on and off and easy for you to sew! A ribbon tie at the bodice adds just a bit of shape without making your kid uncomfortable.
we love it! Let’s get started:
For a 2T top you’ll need (materials provided by The Ribbon Retreat):
1/2 yard main fabric (I used Bella Solids in Fig Tree Cream)
Accent Fabric (Riley Blake Delighted)
1. Let’s get our pieces cut. You need a front and back, 2 sleeves, and a casing for the ribbon at the bodice.
If you’d rather not guess for your size you can pick up a copy of the Lucy Dress from the pattern shop. Same outfit just dress length 🙂
2. Hem the bottom (wider) edge of each sleeve
3. With right sides together sew one edge of each sleeve to the front. Notice that the sleeves start at the top edge of the bodice but don’t go all the way to the side seam
3. With right sides together sew the back bodice to the other edge of each sleeve. Sew the front of the shirt to the back at the side seams.
4. Press the seam allowance of the sleeves in towards the wrong side of the shirt. Top stitch a length of ribbon  over the seam allowance right along the saddle stitch lines. This completely encloses your seam allowance and finishes the edge at the armhole.
5. Hem the bottom edge of the shirt- I folded over 1/4″ twice toward the wrong side and top stitch in place.
6. Press the short edges of your casing in 1/4″ towards the wrong side and then press the long 1/4″ towards the wrong side. Position the 2 ends of the casing at the center of the front bodice and topstitch the casing to the shirt along both long edges.
7. Fold the edge of your neckline over 1/4″ and then another 3/8″ and topstitch in place along the 1st foldline to create your casing. Leave a 1.5″ gap to thread the elastic through
8. Apply fusible interfacing to your accent fabric and cut out your desired appliques. Iron them onto the shirt and then secure with a zig-zag stitch.
9. Now that all of the appliques are done you can go ahead and thread your elastic through the neck casing, sew the ends together, and sew the gap in the casing shut
10. To finish the top- thread a piece of saddle stitch ribbon through the bodice case and tie in a bow
7 Responses
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in Creative Busy Bee Craft Inspirations, under the Page 3 post on Aug. 21, 2012. Thanks again.
Amy, Thanks for a great tutorial. I’m anxious to make these for my granddaughters! Can you tell me how many inches there are from the top of the neckline to the bottom of the armhole?
This is just adorable Amy! I’ll have to try it.
Love this! I’m getting a new niece on my side of the family and would love to make this for her!
great job, and cute model
Very cute! Love the butterflies 🙂
You talented girl, you! That is so cute!