How To Make Raglan Bodice & Raglan Sleeves?

This post deals with meaning and making of Raglan Style bodice and sleeve. This post also includes tips for Raglan style.

Hi friend!

As I promised, today’s post is dedicated to Raglan sleeves. This post is written in follow-up to the request of Ms Suneetha Yenamala.

Before looking at the making, we need to know what raglan style is.

What is a Raglan style?

A style in which sleeves are joined to the bodice diagonally from armscye into the neckline is raglan style.  In this style, the sleeves cover the shoulder part and bodice is without shoulder part.

Making Raglan Bodice Patterns

Let us take normal front & back bodices (click for pattern here) that are with shoulder.

 Bodice Pattern Front & Back

Bodice Pattern Front & Back

Now, we will take a smooth curve from the armhole part to the neckline. This curve would be slightly deep in front. (If the front and back are of same depth also, it wouldn’t change the fit much.) This pattern is Raglan bodice pattern. Raglan design may be changed by taking the curve towards any of the various points on the neck.

 

Raglan Bodice Patterns - Front & Back

Raglan Bodice Patterns – Front & Back

 

Raglan Sleeves:

Raglan sleeve includes shoulder part. For a raglan bodice, shoulder part is absent. In order to cover shoulder part, we have to include shoulder in the sleeves.

Let us take normal bodices and raglan bodice up on each other respectively. This helps us to compare the shapes. Then, let us take the normal set-in sleeve. This sleeve is to be joined to the armhole.

Raglan Bodices & Set in Sleeve - Understanding Raglan Style

Understanding Raglan Style

Raglan sleeve must include the shoulder part and the sleeve part (shown as white colour patterns). The curvy empty space between the two patterns is for fit. This fitting adjustment is shifted towards the raglan line as shown.

Raglan Bodices & Sleeve Patterns

Raglan Bodices & Sleeve Patterns

Let us understand the same in another way. Now, if we fill the curvy part of the bodice and the sleeve of our set-in patterns, we get a pattern as shown below. This pattern is called as extended shoulder/sleeve pattern. In this pattern, shoulder is extended to cover the arm as sleeve.

Bodice-Set in Sleeve patterns into Extended sleeve pattern

Bodice-Set in Sleeve patterns into Extended sleeve pattern

Now, from this extended shoulder pattern, we will draw the raglan curve in the bodice. In order to give proper fit, we will shape the sleeve as well. Curvy front part of the sleeve is deeper than that in the back (as in the set-in sleeves).

Raglan Bodices & Sleeve Patterns

Raglan Bodices & Sleeve Patterns

Note:

  1. The sleeve curve and the bodice curve must measure almost same. If it varies slightly, then it must be adjusted in stitching.
  2. Seam allowances and eases (added in the picture above) are added at required places.

Task completed! We have successfully made bodice and sleeve patterns for raglan style.

Raglan – Style Tips

Every style is good provided it suits us. So, we need to know Yeses and Nos of raglan style with basic figure types. There are three basic figure types: Normal Figure, Narrow & Sloping Shoulder Figure and Wider & Squarish Shoulder Figure.

1. Raglan Style for Normal Figure:

Figure Type

A person having normal shoulder (with slight slope)

Style Suitability

Yes. Any type of Raglan Style suits them.

Following image can illustrate it better:

Raglan Styles for Normal Shoulder

Raglan Styles for Normal Shoulder

 

2. Raglan Style for Narrow & Sloping Shoulder Figure

Figure Type

Shoulder is Narrow or Sloping or Narrow & Sloping

Style Suitability

Usually no. But, a horizontally taken or rounder raglan style may suit them.

It is illustrated in the following image:

Rounder Raglan Style for Narrow & Sloping Shoulder

Rounder Raglan Style for Narrow & Sloping Shoulder

 

3. Raglan Style for Wide & Square shoulder:

Figure Type

Wide & Square shoulder

Style Suitability

Yes. Diagonally taken raglan lines suit them. But, must avoid horizontally tending raglans for this figure type.

This can be understood easily from the following illustration:

Vertical Raglan Style for Wide & Squarish Shoulder

Vertical Raglan Lines for Wide & Squarish Shoulder

It would be a happy moment if this post would be of some use for you! I would love to read your feedback and suggestions! They help Tantu to deliver what you need!

TC! Bye Until the next post!

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Sindhu

A nature lover and dreamer who expresses herself as an artist, fashion designer and blogger. Persued B.Sc fashion design at Karavali College (Mangaluru University 2003 - 2006) with first rank. Former lecturer for fashion designing at Gloria College, Puttur for five years (2006-2011). Blogger since 2013.

14 Comments:

  1. hi you given the patterns but there no proper measurement. Please take any measurement and explain

  2. Super post.Well Explained Thank u Sindhu.

  3. I’ve never thought much about the shoulders, but I do like the medium version of this. I don’t think I have wide shoulders, but I have a wide body? I am plus size. Anyway, if I decide to make some of my own clothes, I will refer back to this. I do crochet clothes, for babies. I wonder which style would be best for them?

    • Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Glad that you find this post useful and worth referring back 🙂 Nice to know that you do crocheting… I think, everything looks awesome on the babies provided they are comfortable, what say?

      TC! Keep smiling 🙂

  4. Pingback:help me with blouse sleeves - IndusLadies

  5. Hi..nice work…
    do u have pattern for basic sleeves of saree blouse?

  6. Dear Sindhu, Thank you so much for this raglan sleeve construction tutorial. It answers a need in making a specific doll dress for our granddaughter, on the occasion of her baptism, (to match her dress that her Mother is making and that there is no doll-size pattern for) and I’ve been earnestly looking for your kind of help! Your unselfish desire to share your gifts with others is an answer to a prayer. Thank You, all the way to India from the US!
    Sincerely, Bonnie

Your words make my day! Thank you!