Free Flutter Sleeve Sewing Pattern (t-shirt 3 – 10)

Warm weather is here- time to start sewing a few lightweight t-shirts!  This free flutter sleeve sewing pattern is available in girl’s sizes 3 to 10 and is just perfect for the warm days ahead.

It’s taken a bit of time, but I’ve just finished creating a flutter sleeve to my free t-shirt pattern.  It took several pattern drafts to get the “flutter” of the sleeve to be fluttery enough without having to add any gathering to the sleeve.  Nothing wrong with gathering of course- it just would have made binding the neckline a bit more difficult.  (And if you’re anything like me- you just don’t have time for that!)

After sewing several versions, I’ve noticed the fabric thicknesses, weight and fiber content will affect the way the flutter sleeve falls.  My very favorite fabrics to use are the lightweight rayon blend knits.  Though sometimes these rayon blend fabrics might not have a lot of stretch- like this purple top. (Which is something to keep in mind when using the same fabric for binding a neckline that needs to stretch over the head, lol.)

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This top can be made with heavier fabrics too and the flutter will still look pretty and fluttery, especially if you cut the sleeve pattern out on the bias.

I intended to just add this additional sleeve version to the original t-shirt pattern, but since I’m recommending the sleeve fabric be cut on the bias, I decided to release this flutter sleeve tee as it’s own pattern.  The actual sleeve pattern is a full sleeve (instead of a half sleeve pattern cut on the fold) which makes it easier to line up on the bias.  Though if you are running short on fabric (like I so often am) keep in mind the sleeve is still cute cut out on the crosswise grain and save quite a bit of fabric that way.  (The sleeve on this top is not cut on the bias.)

Quick note on the original long sleeve t-shirt pattern:  I gave it  little update, it now includes a cut line for a short sleeve and I adjusted the seam allowance shape on the back neckline, (but the basic shape of the t-shirt did not change.)  If you have the first version- you might want to download the updated pattern.

This purple fabric was so soft and flowy, I didn’t cut the sleeve on the bias and it still looked great.  This top was one of my test versions so I didn’t bother hemming it.  ( I was in too much of a rush to try it on and take some photos.)

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I’m also embarrassed to say that I upgraded my coverstitch machine in early December but had still not taken it out of the box until after I made this top.  I’ve now used it several times and that machine sews like a dream!  (You can see the cover stitch hem on the top two tops in the 2nd photo.)  The machine I had before was the brother coverstitch- which was so finicky, it would take me an hour just to set it up and sew properly on my fabric- talk about frustrating.  So if you are thinking about a coverstitch machine- I highly recommend this one!

Perfect for summer!

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Are you ready to sew a flutter sleeve T-shirt with this free pattern?  Head over to page 2 for the pattern download and page 3 for the sewing instructions.

Save the pattern for later by pinning here ==>>