How to make a kids' raglan t-shirt

1. Materials & tools

Materials (size 120 cm)

• Main fabric (jersey or interlock) — about 150 cm wide × 80 cm (59 × 31 in)
• Contrast knit for the sleeves (optional) — about 50 × 40 cm (20 × 16 in)
• Neckband: on the pattern — cut it from the main fabric
• Ballpoint machine needle and stretch thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Kids' clothes” → “Kids' raglan T-shirt” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter chest, length, sleeve length, cuff circumference, neck width and ease. Presets cover 90–130 cm. With “Add a neckband” on, the pattern includes a neckband 90% of the neckline length.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the front, back, sleeves and neckband, and mark the notches on the raglan seams and the quarter marks on the neckband.
2. Cut
   Cut one front and one back on the fold, two sleeves and one neckband (long side across the stretch).
3. Finish the edges
   Optional on knit, but a serged edge lasts better through repeated washing.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the raglan seams

1. Sew the front raglan edge of one sleeve to the front, matching the notches.
2. Sew the back edge of the same sleeve to the back.
3. Repeat for the other sleeve. The neckline is now a complete circle.

4-2. Sides and underarms

1. Sew from the cuff along the underarm and down to the hem in one continuous line on each side.

4-3. Neckband, cuffs and hem

1. Sew the neckband into a loop and fold it in half lengthwise. Match its quarter marks to center front, center back and the points halfway between, then sew it on, stretching it slightly.
2. Turn the cuffs (2 cm / 3/4 in allowance) and hem (2.5 cm / 1 in) up once by the pattern allowance and stitch with a zigzag or stretch stitch.

✏️ On children's clothes the neckline has to go over the head. Once the neckband is sewn into a loop, stretch it over the child's head before you attach it to check it fits — a three-year-old's head is about 50 cm (20 in) around. If you make it from ribbing, use the same pattern piece.

5. Tips & variations

• Contrast sleeves: the classic baseball tee, at no extra cost.
• Match with an adult: the adult raglan uses the same construction, so you can make a matching pair.
• Long sleeves: lengthen the sleeve and make it in French terry for winter.