What is the Carhartt K126?
The K126 is the long-sleeve version of the K87 pocket tee: the same heavyweight cotton jersey and left chest pocket with the woven Carhartt label, with full-length sleeves finished in rib-knit cuffs. It has been a workwear staple for decades and survives in large numbers on the vintage market.
How does the K126 fit?
Long and boxy like the K87, with sleeves cut generously for layering under a jacket. The rib cuffs hold the sleeve in place at the wrist. Most buyers size down one for a modern fit. Because vintage examples have been washed for years, shrinkage has already happened.
What is the fabric like?
Around 6.75 oz cotton jersey — heavy for a tee, so it drapes straight and holds its colour evenly. Years of wear give it the soft hand and even fade that collectors want. The rib cuffs are usually the first thing to show age.
What should I check?
The cuffs for stretching or holes, the collar for rippling, the pocket corners, and the underarms for thinning. The neck label tells you the era and origin. Light marks are part of the character; large stains and holes through the body are not.
K87 or K126 — which should I buy?
K87 for warm weather and layering under a jacket in the cold; K126 as a standalone top in spring and autumn or as a base layer in winter. In wholesale, K126s sell strongly into Northern Europe and Canada where a long sleeve gets more use.
How do you rework a long-sleeve tee?
Usually re-cuffing with new rib knit, cropping the body, or converting a tee with damaged cuffs into a short-sleeve. Two-tone sleeve swaps between tees of different fade are a popular rework.
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