Raglan Sleeve T-shirt Dress Pattern: An Easy Project for All Seasons

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

The raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern is a project suited for nearly every occasion. It is also one of the easiest dresses you can make, only needing a couple of hours at most.

This is a request from a young 23-year-old creator who is just starting to sew, HappySunnyCalifornia, who sent me an email asking for an easy pattern that she can use to make a dress for an evening wedding (the wedding has a '70s disco theme as well).

This week's project is sure to end up being a staple of your wardrobe for many seasons to come, while hopefully helping young people to take up the wonderful craft of sewing.

Wide sleeves with elastic at the wrists.

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

Elastic neckline.

Comfortable slimming lines to follow your curves.

Material

  • 2-2 1/2 yards of lurex stretch knit or lightweight stretch velvet 54″ or wider
  • thread to match
  • 1 yard of 1/4 ” to 3/8″ wide elastic
  • 1 to 1 1/2yards of foldover elastic for the neckline and optional keyhole

Tools



Recommended Fabrics From Amazon

How To Print Your Pattern

If this is your first time here and you need help downloading and assembling a pattern please read this article.  Open the pattern file using Adobe Reader and print on actual size. 

Print and assemble the pattern before you cut the fabric.

How To Get Your Raglan Sleeve T-shirt Dress Pattern

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Pattern Download Here

Pattern Layout For The Raglan Sleeve T-Shirt Pattern

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

Body Measurements

S M L XL 2XL
Bust 34-36″ 38-40″ 42-44″ 46-48″ 50-52″
Hips 34-36″ 38-40″ 42-44″ 46-48″ 50-52″
Waist 24-26″ 28-30″ 32-34″ 36-38″ 40-42″

Sewing Level: Advanced Beginner

Prior use of stretch fabric. Essential reading https://so-sew-easy.com/sewing-stretchy-knits/

Sewing Instructions

This raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern is for four-way stretch knits only and has a width stretch percentage of 75% and above.

Step One

Fold the sleeve matching the sides and sew using a small straight stitch, a small zigzag or your serger using 4 threads.

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

Step Two

Place the back of the raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern piece print facing up. Place the front of the t-shirt dress print facing down. Sew the sides using your sewing machine or your serger.

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

Step Three

Join the sleeves with the bodice aligning the side seams of the sleeves with the side seams of the body. Right sides facing each other.

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern

Join the dots on the top of the sleeves making a box pleat.

Step Four

Apply elastic tight enough to keep your raglan t-shirt mini dress from falling off your shoulders. Add elastic to the bottom of the sleeves.

Step Five

Serge the bottom of your mini dress fold one inch and sew.

Step Six Optional Keyhole

I will share this technique for a keyhole neckline in a separate tutorial because I think a keyhole is one of the easiest ways to make a neckline for a beginner.

Additional ways to transform this pattern

The simplest way to transform a pattern is using a different fabric. By simply using a print with light colours this raglan sleeve t-shirt dress pattern will give you a t-shirt to go over linen pants, a straight skirt, or a new look for summer as a mini dress.

Check out Laura below does she looks great? She used the largest size, raised the neckline by one inch, gather rather than make a pleat the neckline, and added a small keyhole with a button.

In the comments section below let me know if you would like step-by-step instructions on how to make all these pattern transformations.

The sky is the limit, I hope to see your creations on Instagram. Please use #soseweasyoffical so I can see when you post your take on this very easy pattern. Until then, “Let's keep the world together one stitch at a time”.

cotton/bamboo jersey knit fabric


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Cassandra
Cassandra

How would I alter this to make it in a woven fabric?

Rachel Charbonneau
Rachel Charbonneau

Hi Mayra, I would like to know if the seam allowance is included or not.

Rachel Charbonneau
Rachel Charbonneau
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

thank you Mayra. I look forward to trying this pattern.

Rede Batcheller
Rede Batcheller

Hi Mayra! Sorry, I couldn’t find a proper e-mail adress for you but since this raglan sleeve t-shirt pattern reminded me of a suggestion/question I have for you . . . I have a number of every long/very large t-shirts — I think they were originally originally sold as sleep shirts. I have by hand altered the necklines on several in order to make them safer to wear around the house when doing chores, but I think I’d like to try turn them into sort of sun-suits. Obviously over the head won’t work any more — so how do I alter them for shorts on the bottom and ??? on top. (I am >70 yoa and have no figure left to speak of so this is a simple question of function rather than style., but if there were some way for it to be ‘cute’ it would be nice . . . Rede, Alexandria VA USA

Candice
Candice

Love the ideas, and plan to make versions with a) short sleeves, b) narrower long sleeves, c) shorten to a top, with and without the keyhole. And I have fabric ready and waiting – just have to shop the resources in my sewing room!