Girl’s Peplum Top Free Pattern
Today I’m sharing a girl’s peplum top FREE pattern with you! Since we released the Pretty in Peplum Dress & Top Pattern last fall, I’ve been wanting to share a free version of a peplum top in a smaller size (the Pretty in Peplum pattern includes sizes 18-24M-12 years) that will fit Hattie. I can’t wait until she’s a bit bigger and can wear the dress version, but for now she (I) can just enjoy wearing a peplum top! And now your little one can too with this free pattern!
Before you begin:
Pattern is sized 12-18M (19″ chest).
Click HERE to download the free pattern pieces.
Be sure that pattern is printed at 100% and is not set to be scaled (check 1″ test square on page 2).
If you’re looking for a peplum top pattern with larger sizes and more options (including a faced neckline and dress option), the Pretty in Peplum Dress & Top Pattern includes sizes 18-24M-12 years and can be found in our shop HERE)
All seam allowances are 1/2″.
Fabric Requirement:
(affiliate links below)
56-58″ wide knit apparel fabric with good stretch recovery – 7/8 yd
optional: 3/4yd clear elastic to stabilize waistline
Note on Sewing With Knits:
Use a serger or a long and narrow zig zag stitch to allow the fabric to stretch after it’s sewn. Also be sure to use a ballpoint needle whenever sewing with knits.
Pre-wash fabric and cut out pattern pieces as instructed. When cutting peplum piece, fold fabric in half, and then in half again and lay pattern piece on fold as illustrated below. This will form a continuous circular piece. If your fabric is directional, fold the fabric only once and cut two separate pieces, adding seam allowance in place of one of the fold lines so the two halves can be joined.
All seam allowances are 1/2″.
Right sides together (RST), stitch front to back along one shoulder. Press seam toward back.
Press neckband in half lengthwise and pin evenly to neckline, stretching neckband to fit. Stitch neckband to neckline and press seam allowance away from neckband.
Topstitch (use a coverstitch or twin needle if desired) close to seamline. Note: When attaching/topstitching neckband, ensure the stitches will allow enough stretch for the neck to stretch over the head. It may be necessary to widen your zig zag stitch.
Stitch front and back together along remaining shoulder/neckband. Press seam toward back.
Press bottom of each sleeve 1/2″ toward wrong side of fabric. Topstitch folded edges in place.
RST, pin one sleeve to one armhole, stretching armhole to fit sleeve cap, and matching center notch of sleeve with shoulder seam. Stitch along pinned edge. Repeat with remaining sleeve and armhole.
RST, pin and stitch each sleeve and side seam continuously from sleeve hem to bottom of front/back, matching raw edges.
Press outer edge of peplum piece 1/2″ toward wrong side of fabric. Topstitch folded edge in place.
RST, pin and stitch peplum piece to raw bottom edge of top, matching notches of peplum piece with side seams of top and front/back center notches. If your fabric doesn’t have great stretch recovery, sewing clear elastic into the seam as you go will help the top keep it’s shape and prevent it sagging out of shape.
Voila! Now go make 3 more ;).
Pattern: Free download HERE
Fabric: Michael Levine
Mocassins: blogged HERE (Lil Papoose Mocassins pattern by Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop)
Look at those cheeks… She is adorable! And so big already!
Love that knit.
Adorable!!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow morning that links to your free pattern:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-peplum-top-for-a-toddler/2015/02/28/
–Anne
OH she is simply adorable :) What a cute little outfit. Love the top.
I am about to make this cute top for my little girl! Just wondering, what is the unmarked curved piece on the bottom of page two of the pattern for? I feel like I’m missing something with the sleeves.
Hi Elizabeth! That’s the top of the sleeve pattern piece :). Once you connect the pages together, it will fit onto the bottom.
Got it! Thank you, I was just looking at the pieces wrong! I’ll blame it on mommy brain. :)
I’m not sure if your comment “seam allowance is 1/2 inch” means it’s included already in the printout or if I need to add it to the pattern pieces.Want to sew this nice piece for my little cutie :-)
Hi Elisabeth! The 1/2″ seam allowance is included on all the pieces :).
Thanks so much for this wonderful pattern and tutorial! I ended up using a swim-suit fabric and making my little girl a peplum swim-top and matching swim-pants. Fabulous – thanks again!
Awesome, so glad to hear, Katie!
Just finished this adorable top and it looks lovely! I don’t have a serger, and haven’t sewn with knits since the 1970’s, but my 39 year old sewing machine has enough stretch stitch options that I was able to create nice, clean seams. Thanks for providing the easy to follow tutorial and clear photographs.
Thank you for this free sewing pattern. I made one for my daughter. It was easy to make and I’m happy of the job I’ve done. I wrote a post (in french) on my site about your pattern and shared on Pinterest.
On page 2, what is the curved piece that has fold on it? Thank you for the pattern.
That’s part of the peplum – once you attach the pages together it will make sense :).
Thanks so much for this adorable pattern! I have some leftover knit that will be perfect for this!
Hi
Love the pattern, but not sure how to cut the peplum. The pattern piece shows both sides on a fold, and the sewing instructions show the piece already cut.
Please can you explain this to me,
Thanks
Hi Lourette! You will need to fold the fabric once, and then again in the opposite direction, which will give you the two folds that meet together at the corner. I hope that helps!
Cute pattern! Thanks for sharing it. I just finished one for my 1 yr old granddaughter. It was very easy to make. No serger, but had a nice stretch stitch on my old machine, too. That piece for the sleeve had me confused for a minute…finally figured it out. Made it in a leopard print and it is adorable! Now on to making solid color leggings to go with it.
Hi, i love the peplum top so I tried to make one too, but I have problems at the neckline. How should i have cut the neckband, on bias? Because it has the tendancy to stick out, to say so..or if i topstich the neckline will it fix the problem?
The neckband doesn’t need to be cut on the bias (but it can be if you’d like) – since it’s made with knit, it will stretch to nicely fit the neckline. If you find that the band is gapey, it’s likely because your knit has poor stretch recovery – if that’s the case, you can cut the neckband a bit shorter to eliminate the gaping :).
Thank you for the pattern Abby!
The pattern was perfect! Easy to follow and sized just right. I can’t wait to see it on my granddaughter.
You are very welcome!
Hi! I know this has been asked before about the extra piece? But I’m still confused….
Can you post a picture of the full sleeve cut out? Or how the pieces should look. I’ve already cut my pieces but just want to be sure
Thank you!
Thanks so much for having this pattern available. Our first Grand Daughter from my Husband’s son needs some winter clothing and since I made a baby quilt for her when she was born, my daughter-in-law mentioned that since I can sew maybe I might make her some clothes. Well if I had not run across your pattern I would not even try. I am excellent at sewing with Machine or by hand but rusty. Grandmother taught me at 9 years old and have been sewing for over 50 years. Only adult clothing, quilts and crafts though.
Will try to take pic of top when done. Thanks for putting some pep back in my step.
So glad to hear it! Thanks for using my pattern!
I love this pattern for my granddaughter. I have even lengthened it to make her a dress! Thank you so much.
Thank you for the pattern, we have a baby grand daughter arriving in a few months. Just planning a head. Thenk you.
The peplum pattern is no longer available in the link. Can you please re-post it?
Hi, you can find the full sized pattern here: https://www.sewmuchado.com/shop/pdf-patterns/pretty-in-peplum-dress-top-pdf-pattern/. And the free pattern download for size 12-18m here: https://www.sewmuchado.com/shop/free-patterns/peplum-top-free-pattern/.
Thank you for this pattern. So fed up with wrong neck openings in other makes. This came together beautifully and the pattern was clear and accurate. My GD starts nursery when mummy returns to work next week and I (Nanny McPhee) am making some nursery friendly clothes. I cannot wait to try it on her on Friday.