How to Sew a Raglan Sleeve or Baseball Style Top

Grab an old tee, some chalk, and a pair of scissors!

top by SmarmyClothes.com

Difficulty:

03moderate

Step 1

Pick a shirt. You can do this with the shirt you want to reconstruct, but if you’re new to making patterns, I’d recommend getting an old junk shirt and cutting it apart to make the pattern.


Step 1
Step 1


Step 2

Cut the collar off. This is more necessary if you’re going to actually be using this shirt as your reconstruction. If you’re only cutting apart the shirt to use as a pattern, you can leave the collar on, if you want.


Step 2
Step 2



Step 3

Mark the front with chalk like so. This is the sleeve line.

The top of the line should be about 2 inches down from the shoulder seam. Make a line from that spot on the neckhole to the armpit.


Step 3
Step 3


Step 4

Now, we cut!

Just cut where you’ve marked, but ONLY through the front of the shirt. Don’t cut all the way through the back. Stop once you reach the pit.


Step 4
Step 4


Step 5

Flip the shirt over, and mark the back the same way.


Step 5
Step 5


Step 6

Cut where you marked the back.

Now your sleeves come off!


raglan06
Step 6


Step 7

Cut up the sleeve seam, and this is what you get- a raglan sleeve! Use this as a template to make your sleeve pattern.

You’ll probably want to mark which sleeve is which, but if you don’t and you forget, the longer of the two pointy bits at top goes in back, and the shorter end in front.

Don’t throw the rest of the t-shirt way, either. Cut up the sides of the t-shirt, because you’re going to need those front and back pieces as patterns, too.

Just so you know, you CAN NOT attach a raglan sleeve to a shirt that is supposed to have standard (set-in) sleeves.

To attach the sleeve, sew the sleeve seam up (the one you just cut open), and the sides of the t-shirt. Line up the Longer Point with the back of the shirt, the sleeve seam with the side seam of the t-shirt, and the Short Point with the front, and sew! They’re really easy!


Step 7
Step 7


9 thoughts on “How to Sew a Raglan Sleeve or Baseball Style Top

  1. HI
    I was looking high and low for simple instruction for raglan sleeves. Your method is pure genius I love it! Am definitely going to do this.

  2. This is very easy and helpful. Just I am not sure, when cutting the sleeves, to attach them to the proper places, do I need to give the seam allowances?
    Thanks!

  3. GENIUS!!! Pure genius. I have been looking for a way to turn ugly, unflattering t-shirts into baseball shirts for years. Thank you SO, SO much!!! I made two last night and they look amazing.

    I found that saving the collar cut from the old t-shirt and using it on the new shirt works really well.

  4. I’m confused on part 7; do you have an after picture of the sleeve?
    I’m new at sewing so without the pictures it’s hard for me to understand.
    You cut the sleeve off; then cut the side seams of the t-shirt, then re-sew the sleeves back on?
    I’m trying this on a men’s t-shirt that too big in the sleeves for me. What about the original sleeve seam (on top)?

    1. Hi Sandra-
      Sometimes I look back at old tutorials and wonder what I was thinking. This is one of those tutorials.
      What I should have made clear is that this is how to make a PATTERN for a raglan sleeve… I don’t know why I didn’t go all the way and show how to attach the new sleeves. :/
      If you’re trying to take a men’s tee with regular set-in sleeves (and I’m assuming you are if there’s a seam at the shoulder), then you would have better luck with this tutorial: http://whatthecraft.com/how-to-resize-a-t-shirt-diy-fashion-tutorial-video/

  5. Adorable! You are so talented and I am totally impressed with your work. It seems easy to make by following your tutorial. I will definitely make this for me. Thanks for the tutorial.

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