Swinging Swingy Dress. Free pattern 2/3T and Tutorial

I made my daughter a swingy summer dress based on an idea I saw at miniboden but they had it in cotton and a completely different front neckline... really not the same at all but I liked how it almost looked like a circle skirt but in a dress form. Thought it would be perfect for the summertime.

Perfect for twirling in!

Featuring a ruffled gathered neckline

and a comfy elastic back that makes it for easy on and offs!

Cut out the PATTERN pieces. (thanks to Nancy for reminding me about scribd) The size fits my 2T daughter perfectly hitting just at the top of her knee, but you should easily be able to get 3T out of this by adding an inch or two to the length.  The dress slips over and on so easily thanks to the elastic back, making it easy for dressing! (if your toddler is as active as mine I'm sure you'll appreciate this ! )

and here is a pic of the ruffle pattern piece - so you get an idea. on a 11x 8.5 sheet of paper. I just winged it myself and then traced it after I cut it out for you.

(see that pin on the bottom one? I like to mark my back piece with a pin so I don't get confused)

Fold over the edge of your front piece neckline and hem it

Then sew a gathering stitch and gather it as tight as you can (or want it)

Here is a close up of the neckline all finished

  

Now take your back piece fold it over about an inch and sew

Cut a piece of elastic and thread it through. I cut mine 7.5 inches. 

When through stitch it to each end like seen below.

Then put your front and back pieces right sides together and stitch the side seams, I straight stitched and then zig zaged.

Next hem the bottom of the dress

and to finish off get your bias tape and put around the arm holes, I tucked the one end into the other to finish it off and keep it tidy.

and that is it! The swinging dress is complete!

and perfect for dancing in!

PS. once again I apologize for my awful pictures. again we have rain and a mere 3 degrees Celsius (which according to google is 37degrees farenheit) outside. blech.  Maybe one day I'll convince the husband that we should move somewhere that has more summer than it does winter....