How To: Narrow | Wide Shoulder Adjustment (Sewing Fitting Tips)

[@laurajackson6860]

I realize this was posted a year ago, but learning how to sew and make adjustments is timeless. I love your method because of its simplicity, thank you so much!

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

Hello! I hope you had an awesome day! I attended 2 virtual sew dates and now I'm tired. I hand quilting while I watch you. I just want you to know that I very much enjoy the content on your channel. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead! Thank you for posting this video and for your expertise.

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you for such a lovely message. I am glad you are enjoying my videos. What a day you have had. That’s amazing! Sounds like great fun. Have a great week too.

[@velvetycleopatra]

Thank you for this, Aneka! I have very narrow shoulders compared to the rest of me so this is so useful! ❤️

[@MadetoSew]

Glad I could help Gemma. X

[@lb1472]

Thank you so much for this video! I have narrow shoulders and the alteration that is often suggested for this doesn't work for me at all, it really distorts the top of the pattern. Both of these methods are new to me and would work so much better, I'm looking forward to trying them out. x

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you. So glad I could help you. Aneka x

[@tpanda]

This was more helpful than my fashion design book! Thank you for being so thorough!

[@MadetoSew]

Oh that’s so lovely to hear. Thank you so much.

[@e.p.2441]

I love all your videos - so clear and detailed! You are the best!

[@MadetoSew]

Thanks very much. 🙏🙏🙏

[@mnels5214]

Very helpful - I have to do these all the time because one shoulder is slightly longer than the other, so this was great!

[@MadetoSew]

Really pleased I could help.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Perfect timing! I'm just starting a toile for a blouse that I am going to do my first ever pattern matching on. Everything needs to be perfect before I go down that rabbit hole! I really like your tutorials, thank you.

[@MadetoSew]

Amazing glad I could help!

[@deerpark]

It's so nice to see that the pros also have to go through all the small little changes for a proper fit. Was starting to wonder if I was just incompetent.

[@MadetoSew]

No at all, there is no one size fits all so if you aren't the exact same shape and size as the 'standard' the designer drafted for, you will always have to make some tweaks.

[@ruthirwin8222]

Thank you i have narrow shoulders and large bust..its so hard to fit xxx

[@MadetoSew]

Glad I could help Ruth xx

[@melissacoulter269]

Oh, goodness. Thank you for this. I'm petite (5'2'' and very short between shoulder and bust) with narrow shoulders and big hips (classic A shape) which gives me fits when attempting to construct garments. I finally have a path forward to help with a dress I've been fussing with for well over two weeks.

[@MadetoSew]

Glad I could help.

[@laurajones4088]

Aneka, thank you for providing very clear and thorough fitting instruction tutorials. With some patterns, I find I need to make narrow shoulder adjustments. Have you any plans to cover forward shoulder adjustments?

[@MadetoSew]

Hi Laura, yes I can easily cover a forward shoulder adjustment. I will do that. Glad this helped.

[@patternmakingfordesigners4914]

Love the video! It is very clear to understand!

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you 🙏

[@Sheri...]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you!

[@MadetoSew]

Thanks Sheri.

[@leishabgc]

I’m loving your video series, Aneka. You make sewing lessons are delight! 🤩 Thank you.

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you! Glad I could help.

[@janspenno2241]

Wonderful video! Just need to do this!

[@MadetoSew]

Thanks Jan. Glad I could help.

[@lian7217]

thank u..the shoulder fit is my sewing weakness!

[@MadetoSew]

Yes! Glad I could help.

[@bedajh]

Love this! Thank you.

[@MadetoSew]

Glad it’s useful. ❤️

[@SparkyOne549]

Thank you!

[@MadetoSew]

🙏

[@jennyp4934]

This was amazing, thank you. I have extremely narrow shoulders and after a lifetime of sewing I finally know how to deal with the issue constructively.

[@MadetoSew]

So glad I could help Jenny. Good luck with the adjustments. Aneka x

[@jennyp4934]

I only discovered your posts today, you were recommended by Pattern Scout. I'm so impressed that I've subscribed. I've sewn since I was a school girl, but I've got a syndrome that has made my figure a bit odd, so I have to tweak all my patterns and when I was younger it was easier. But as I get older it's more challenging, so I'll be looking at all your posts that you've done. Thanks.

[@MadetoSew]

@@jennyp4934 thank you so much Jenny. That’s very kind that they recommended me and I really hope I can help you with your fitting. Any questions or video requests let me know. Aneka x

[@jennyp4934]

@@MadetoSew thank you.

[@clothingalterations]

Awesome video. Very helpful

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you.

[@carlawalden]

Hi Aneka thanks for the super helpful video! Just a quick question, I have quite broad shoulders and have to make wide adjustments that are usually bigger than 1.5cm. How do I ensure the sleeve head shape doesn’t have the V you described? I am struggling to remake my armhole curves to be a nice shape

[@andyy2436]

Thank you so much.

[@MadetoSew]

No problem. Glad I could help.

[@jillyc3777]

Wow. So many patterns I’ve come across have 2.5 inches to 4 on the sleeve. No wonder is tough to get in.

[@MadetoSew]

It can be super tricky. Depending on fabrics.

[@velvetcobra5787]

hi, i am trying to make a shirt for my boyfriend, who’s only worn shirts with the shoulders hanging off by several inches. it’s a pretty scary task because he is not nearby for me to compare and the adjustment is rather big 😁 Do you think this method is still suitable when cutting the shoulder seam by almost half ? But more importantly, how should i go about it when i want to raise the shoulder decline ? can i just bring the cut piece upwards or is it something more complicated ? Thanks so much for this video ♥️

[@janeybeasley9525]

Thank you for this, I think I often need to do this but also I need to deal with a gaping neckline, could I do both on a pattern, or am I just choosing the wrong size?

[@throughcolouredglasses9300]

I'm really not that experienced, but could adjusting the bust darts maybe help?

[@qormi1000]

Thank you for that.

[@MadetoSew]

Pleasure.

[@merari2307]

Thank you!!!

[@MadetoSew]

🙏

[@piorism]

Hello - This is a bit unrelated to the main topic of the video, but I'd like to ask : is the extra centimeter of ease in sleeve diameter something you would actually recommend to include when drafting a pattern ? And if yes, why ? Or, is it best to make the measurements of sleeve hole and sleeve diameter match perfectly ?

[@MadetoSew]

Usually I would draft a sleeve that has a little bit of ease in it. 5mm difference each side (so 1cm total). This is pretty standard for most patterns and most pattern drafting methods. Ease can be useful firstly to make the bicep large enough for the wearer. If you see my fuller figure patterns (approx UK sizes 16-32) you will see that I used more ease in the sleeve (only a small amount more). Simply to fit the fuller bicep shape. Secondly ease can be useful with certain fabrics for getting a nicely sewn sleeve. It does of course depend on fabric and design. I believe that you don’t have to have ease in a sleeve if you don’t need it; fabric and bicep size dependant of course. Hope this helps! Aneka

[@piorism]

@@MadetoSew Hello ! Thank you so much for the reply, I think I understand now. I would assume that the extra material is also a good safety net anyways since measuring curves is tricky. Will try this asap on my current pattern - a first attempt at replicating a simple jacket. Thanks again for your extremely useful videos !

[@MadetoSew]

@@piorism Wonderful good luck. Make sure when you measure curves to use the tape measure on it's side, and measure the stitching line. This might help. Best, Aneka

[@cleanqueen75]

I have narrow shoulders but a large back width.

[@mohammedazgharbaig7491]

Very fantastic necqe

[@MadetoSew]

Thank you

[@wendypercival4871]

I struggle to find the right pattern size for me. I have narrow shoulders and a small upper bust, and a broad back making my full bust much bigger than my upper bust. If I choose a pattern based on my upper bust, in theory I need then to do a FBA but I’m not “busty” so I don’t need the curves, just the width. If I choose a pattern based on my full bust and do a narrow shoulder adjustment, that might work… but I suspect there’d still be too much width in the pattern at the top and neck edge. It’s all very baffling! 😂🤔

[@MadetoSew]

It can take you around in circles sometimes. Have you tried drafting your own patterns? That might help... Aneka x

[@bhaskarkonduri3862]

Hi sister, You are my true inspiration..... Do you have children... Do a separate video on how you manage your time , to balance, between family and profession. All the best.

[@sewmuchsewing]

Ok so I have done the small shoulder adjustment of 2.5cm and now my sleeve head is 2.5cm smaller then my total armhole. What do I do now to adjust? I assume I adjust the armhole down as it is now approx 3.5cm larger than it should be?

[@MadetoSew]

Hi Catherine, were you able to measure the sleeve and armhole before the adjustment? Do you know how much ease the pattern had in the sleeve? Ideally you want to put it back to what it was originally. But sometimes some patterns can have a little too much ease in my opinion. You have 2 ways to remove ease from the sleeve. 1. Is to remove it from the underarm seam of the sleeve. This depends on your bicep size whether you can remove it here and still have ease for your bicep. 2. Is to lower the cap height. This depends on your figure too. How much height you need. The adjustment can be a combination of both 1 and 2 above. Maybe I should make a video on this?

[@sewmuchsewing]

I was doing the narrow shoulder adjustment as I was watching the video so didn't think to measure the original armhole until you mentioned it (I am not one of those clever people who trace off the patterns). I did add to the underarm, I have 1.5cm smaller armhole now so figure im on the right track! (?) I'm making my toile now so will keep you posted!

[@MadetoSew]

@@sewmuchsewing I also should have mentioned it at the start of the video. I am glad you have managed to alter it anyway. Keep me updated with how the toile goes. Good luck!

[@lindalisella9825]

Hello