Sewing Pattern Review...

Scientific Seamstress All the Rage Raglan

If you are at all familiar with my knitting you may know that I'm awfully fond of raglans. I like the shape, I like the look, and I like the construction. Enter... the knit sewn raglan.

I'll have to admit that up until Bubba was born it had been a while since I did much garment sewing for my boys. My older boys have reduced what Mama-sewn items they will actually use to quilts and pajama pants. Its kind of limiting. But a new baby boys brings about opportunity for fun boy-ish fabrics and searching out some new sewing patterns. Since he's too little to complain or pick out his own clothes I figure I'm totally winning for at least the next few years.

Internet searching turned up some really nice choices for boy stuff and this raglan pattern immediately caught my eye. Cause its a raglan. I figured it would be the perfect companion for all those busy cotton prints I've been turning into pants.

I really love this pattern. Its basic form is easy to sew and results in a great little shirt. I really like stuff that I can mass produce when the mood strikes and this is definitely a production line sort of project if you want it to be. The pattern includes lots of extra info for several variations like short sleeve, long sleeve, and even hoods. The size range is great too, from baby to a size 12. This one is a 12 month size and fits perfect on my 22lb 8 month old.

The pattern itself is very clear and if you're new to sewing knits you'll find all the information you could possibly need from tools to how to work with knit fabric. Don't be afraid!

The only thing I did differently from the directions ('cause I always have to mess with something) was the neck ribbing. Not to say the pattern directions aren't good, just that there's more than one way to do some things and I did mine differently. I could tell just by looking at the picture in the pattern of those pins pointing toward the neck opening that there were going to be many bad words if I did it that way.

Here's how I did the neck ribbing on Bubba's shirt...

I made my neck band as explained in the pattern but then I turned the shirt inside out and pinned the neck band to the right side of the shirt (which is inside). I placed my pins so that the points were pointing toward the bottom of the shirt. 

I pulled the accessory tray off my machine so I could work free arm which made it possible to slip the neck opening right over the end of the free arm. You can see here that the ribbing is on the inside...

While sewing, gently pull the shirt layer so it is flat but not stretched. The neck ribbing will stretch enough to lay flush and everything should come together nicely...

Here's the entire neck band sewn on...

It looks like this from the outside...

A quick trip to the ironing board to be steamed into submission...

And viola! Neck ribbing.

This is just the sort of shirt pattern I can use again and again. I can see making lots of long sleeve ones for the cooler weather, using some thrifted and repurposed fabrics, and even making soft, snuggly shirts to go with pajama pants. Since I can make up to a size 12 I can see using this pattern for both Bubba and Tater for years to come.

This is totally the sort of thing even the older boys would wear. Maybe I'll need to hunt down a teen to adult sized raglan pattern. 

I think Bubba likes it too!

Comments

[Rebecca Kaye Bezdecny]

So cute! I'm a sucker for a raglan myself. Hmmm...

[Merrymagpiefarm]

Okay I am totally in love with this pattern and with Bubba modeling the finished product.