spring weather around these parts is a bit of a mixed bag. eighty-five one day, 50ºF the next. i made this light sweatshirt-type shirt for those days when i need a warmer layer, but still want to look like spring. again, this is the lane raglan by hey june (clearly, i endorse this pattern!), and the fabric is a cotton interlock from girl charlee. this fabric is crazy soft and comfy, i love it so much!
i was a little over confident in how much i could fit onto one yard of fabric and nearly didn’t get to make this top! i had to abandon print matching the sleeves to the main body pieces, and i was still short about 1″ in width. i briefly threw in the towel, then got it back out to try again. i arranged it so that only a small part at the underarm of one sleeve was hanging off the fabric. i cut it out, then went back and pieced a scrap on and finished cutting the sleeve.
i always win at fabric cutting.
i used rib knit from joann fabrics as the neck and sleeve/hem bands since interlock doesn’t have the recovery needed for the job. plus the ribbing gives it a more “authentic” sweatshirt vibe. i probably could have stretched the neck band tighter since it’s slightly wavy, but it doesn’t particularly bother me.
for this version i shortened the hemline by 2″. it works a little better for layering with the shorter length, and, as it turns out, i wouldn’t have had enough fabric anyways. in case you were wondering, these are my jalie jeans that i made a few months ago. i honestly didn’t anticipate them becoming my go to jeans, but they are! my GAP jeans just feel so wrong now, i never reach for them. it’s definitely time for a second pair, but i suspect that won’t happen until fall. or sooner… who knows!
—lisa g.
I love it in this fabric, very cool. “I always win at fabric cutting.” Haha, way to take charge!!
it is a competition, right?! haha!
Ooh, rib knit. Would you say that this would be a good first project for working with rib knit? Great job on bending that one yard to your will!
certainly! there’s nothing all that complicated about rib knit (though i’d stay away from the thin rayon versions, i hear they’re a pain!) but you may have to play around with the stretch factor if you’re uncertain about how it’ll behave.
Looks great — I really like the shorter length, and the fabric is lovely. I just finished my first (short sleeve) one last night and it is a little on the long side.
thanks! at least it’s easier to chop off length than it is to add… 😉
Great top! I really like it!
thank you!
Ah, don’t you just love a good win?! Love the top and totally LOVE the jeans! They’re a staple in my wardrobe and the Jalie jeans are on my sewing list this year. I hope they turn out as good as yours!
thanks! i’m a jeans girl, it was inevitable that i’d eventually make some. totally worth the effort, i hope you give it a go!
So nice! Geez – I bought this pattern immediately after you and a few others started showing FOs from it. Have I made it yet? Of course not! So. Far. Behind! Same with the Jalie jeans pattern!
Such a nice fitting raglan. I have about 4 different basic knit top patterns (including one raglan I think…) in my stash after suddenly desperately wanting a pattern for such a staple a few weeks ago…and I’ve not even sewn any yet! I think I need your version now. I love a winner!
Cute sweatshirt! I so often find myself in a fabric cutting challenge, that I am beginning to wonder if I should start buying great lengths? Nice to hear that someone else is pushing those fabric cutting boundaries! This sweat + jeans is a chic basic outfit that will get lots of wear…great win for home sewing.
Love it as always! I also have this pattern on my list of soon makes!!
Well done showing that fabric who’s boss! I do wish Girl Charlee sold in fractions of yards – 1 is not quite enough for a long sleeve shirt, but 2 is way too much… I also always try to eek it out of the smaller amount too.
The top looks great and those jeans are AWESOME!
Absolutely gorgeous on you! This is such a stylish and pretty top 🙂
Looks great! I think you’ve sold me on this pattern. I love my Renfrews, but it just doesn’t have one with raglan sleeves…
You’re so good at finding then actually sewing from pattern companies I’ve not heard of before. I used to keep miles away from raglan because I thought that style enhanced the width of the shoulder area – one of those optical illusion things – but now I’m older and wiser, I’m not so sure. That papercut hoody I sewed up was raglan, and I think it’s actually more flattering that normal set in sleeves. What I’m getting to is that I really like this pattern. If I find a pretty fleecy fabric to sew it up in – I’m probably going to buy it! I LOVE the solid hot pink and striped version they have on their site (with a gold pocket?? so cool).
The style looks wonderful on you – especially the shape of the neckline. Love it.
i’m so addicted to raglan sleeved patterns! if anything i would think the raglan lines narrow the shoulder visually. at any rate, i hope you find some fabric and make your own!