Little Girl Swing Tunic Tutorial

Sharing is caring!

Learn how to make a little girl swing tunic with this sewing tutorial. It’s the perfect summer project and uses lots of bias tape!

I have something really fun for you! This is a really easy and fun tunic with lots of swing. It has lots of growing room. It’s very simple so there are so many options for customization. My daughter loved running around in it and swinging back and forth! (She also got mud on it right before I took pictures!)

I love the pop of the bias tape against the fuschia. I also love how the tunic is so voluminous and drapey, but the bias tape makes the sleeves and hem stand out. It pairs really well with leggings and even a cardigan for cold days. I know my daughter will be able to wear this tunic for a couple of years.

Supplies

• 2/3 yards of softer woven fabric like Cotton Lawn, Voile, etc. (Don’t use anything wider than 50″.)
• 3 yards of 1/2″ double fold bias tape*
• 1 button
• Sewing tools

Instructions

1. Gather your supplies.

2. Rip the edge of one edge of your fabric about 1″ in to get a straight edge. Measure up 15″ and rip again.

3. Find the center of the fabric and fold both selvages in to meet at the center line.

4. Cut out where the sleeve will go. Line up the top with the top edge and the fold with the fold.

5. You will have two U-shaped cutouts from the top edge of the fabric in between the center line and the selvages.

6. Cut two sleeves on the fold from the remaining fabric. The shape can be similar to what I cut out below.

7. Sew the selvages together at 1/4″ stopping 5″ from the top. Iron the seam open and iron the 5″ open just like the seam.

8. Topstitch the seam allowances of the 5″ down at 1/8″ from the edge.

9. Use the bias binding to hem the sleeves and the bottom of the tunic.

10. Insert the sleeves into the sleeve cutout area. With WRONG SIDES TOGETHER match up the top edge of the sleeve with the top edge of the tunic and sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance. You will not sew in a full U-shape but you will sew two separate sides.

11. Finish the raw edges with the bias tape. This will be on the outside of the tunic.

12. Sew the bias edge seam allowance down towards the sleeve.

13. Sew two gathering stitches along the top of the tunic at 1/4″ and 1/2″ starting and stopping at the opening in the back.

14. Gather the neckline to about 14″ depending on the size of your child. (Here’s different ways to gather.)

15. Cut a piece of bias binding that will fit around your button with some seam allowance to attach to the neckline. (Mine was 2 3/4″ but my button was really big.) Sew along the open edge to enclose the seams.

16. Cut some bias binding 15″. Fold over the raw edges 1/2″ and sew down.

17. Sew loop onto one side of the back opening at the top edge.

18. Finish the neckline with the prepared bias binding. Take out the 1/2″ gathering stitching.

I love the simple details of this tunic especially with some pretty bias binding. It would be so pretty with printed fabric and solid bias binding. Or stripes and dots! You could get pretty crazy with your combinations.

If you make something using this tutorial, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!

Sharing is caring!