Back in March (thanks Instagram for providing a date check) the weather turned cold and Clare discovered that she didn’t have any long-sleeved tees that still fitted.  So I jumped online, found the Hey June Camden Raglan, got printing, got taping, got cutting, and got sewing!

These are great examples of how fabric affects fit. But firstly, to the pattern itself. From the Hey June website: The Camden Raglan is a casual fitted tee for junior girls in sizes 6 – 16.  Its versatility will make it a great wardrobe builder in your pattern stash.  Support your favorite sports team by colorblocking with the sleeve stripes, or use the front of the shirt as a blank slate for iron-on decals or stenciling.  View A features a trendy curved hem and view B has an easy-to-sew banded hem.  Both views A and B have options for sleeve stripes, a hood, 3 sleeve lengths, wristbands, and a kangaroo pocket.

I possibly sewed size 12 for Clare.  The Hey June Juniors range is a great range of basic patterns for tweens and teens.  So often girls patterns stop at around size 8 or so.  It’s great to find some options that keep a more typical girls shape but go up to a 16.  Great for tall kids too.  I started off with the striped top, in cotton/lycra from Crafty Mamas.  As always with Crafty Mamas Fabrics, it is a beautiful quality knit.  Substantial, with plenty of stretch and recovery.  Clare has worn this top rather a lot this winter, and it’s still looking good.

These tops are FAST to sew – especially when you choose the most basic view. Front, back, raglan sleeves. Neckband (length chosen according to this tutorial, as always).

This fits Clare very nicely across the shoulders and I like the curve of the hemline a great deal. As always, she could do with a sway back alteration if we wanted to avoid that bit of pooling at the centre back waistline, but to be honest, I don’t really care about it in this type of garment – especially in a growing person who will eventually pass it down to her younger sister.

The pink jacquard knit came from Super Cheap Fabrics. I sewed it in exactly the same size as the stripe. It’s a very comfortable fabric to wear. We chose to use the reverse side for the neckband.

Construction was all on the overlocker. I used the sewing machine to secure the neckband and hems, all with a zig-zag stitch. For the striped top I used the twin needle for the hems, with contrasting thread.

The jumper version was a little different to the previous two. The fabric is a wool blend fleece remnant I found at Rathdowne Fabrics. I cut it out larger than the previous versions so that it could be layered over other tops. We decided to use bands to finish the sleeves and the bottom, and to add the front kangaroo pocket. Construction was all on the overlocker, with a zig-zag stitch used to stabilise some of the seams and the neckband in particular.

This was very stretchy fabric to work with. It really didn’t play nice. The neckline in particular stretched way out and required plenty of steam then the zig-zag stitching to bring it back to a better approximation of where it needed to be. I wasn’t rapt with the finished product. It’s acceptable, and she’s worn it (it’s very warm) but it’s not brilliant. Fabric type – and knowing how to handle it – makes such a difference!

If you have a tween/teen, this pattern is definitely worth adding to your stash. (And thanks go to mum for the lovely knitted slouch hat).