Shoulder Fit Adjustments for Sewing Your Own Clothes

Learn how to do common shoulder fitting adjustments for sewing: sloped shoulders, straight shoulders, forward shoulder, narrow shoulder and broad shoulder. Post with illustrations and more info here ↓
mellysews.com/shoulder-fittin...
Wearing in this video: Hathaway Tank, pattern available in my shop here blankslatepatterns.com/produc...

[@tammymasson2343]

This tutorial was extremely helpful! I've read about these issues, but having you explain and use the mannequin really made things click for me. Thank you!!!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it helped!

[@modono6257]

I can’t tell you how relevatory this tutorial was!! GAME CHANGER. Thank you!!!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it's helpful!

[@momzilla9491]

Wow. So many fitting issues addressed in one video. The Shoulder Slope on all my retail garments suck. Drag Lines identifying the issues at the Shoulder Slope rather than immediately proceeding to a bust adjust is really, really appreciated! Big thanks! I am saving this as the first adjustment to address in all pattern muslins. Height before width!

[@BeverlyTam]

Felt like someone was stalking me and made this video! 😆 Thank you so much for this! It helped a lot!!!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it helped!

[@nancynewman6592]

One of the best explanations I have seen Thank you!!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kate.cousteils]

This is fantastic. I have been struggling with full bust adjustments and not understanding that it was the shoulder seen that was the problem all along!!! Thank you so much!

[@Mellysews]

This can be tricky. Sometimes what looks like a sloped shoulder adjustment needed is actually a full bust adjustment needed and vice versa.

[@SReid111]

Love this. I always increased/decreased the arm scye and got into loads of issues. It never occured to me to move the whole armhole! :)

[@Mellysews]

Glad it helped!

[@Escape10mom]

Great info. Always wondered about the narrow & sloped shoulder adjustments.

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@t10mcg]

This tutorial is excellent! You explained the problem and solution well for each situation. Thank you for the visuals and clear explanations! I hope you continue to make videos like this! You’re a great teacher!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jstork26]

So concise and always helpful advice. Thanks

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@suzannelandau9039]

A brilliant tutorial. Thank you Melly.

[@Mellysews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Golfgirlv]

Fabulous! Your tips are always on clear and easy to follow. Thank you

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@patriciaingraldi4719]

Thank you for an excellent video. You're very clear and your demonstration was spot on.

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rhondaphillips432]

Just found you today, subscribed and hope to see more subjects that will improve my sewing, we're not going to be where we can't learn more in our hobbies.

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@cheekymunki6]

This was so helpful and so clear, thank you!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Silver_Threads_Sewing]

Thank you for this information. My biggest problem with fit is in the shoulder and arm area. I have a high round back and forward shoulders…. So I appreciated your tutorial so much. ~ Diann

[@Mellysews]

Happy to help!

[@denisedorsey2889]

Fantastic video. Your teaching is clear and concise. Your visual examples, both on the muslins and the mini patterns are so helpful. This underscores the importance of sewing a muslin! 😊. While I don’t need these adjustments (I generally have to do a petite bodice adjustment) the techniques are applicable to so many other fitting fixes we have to do. Thanks, Melly!

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@carolcarter865]

Excellent video

[@Mellysews]

Thank you very much!

[@annedaniel5256]

Thank you Melly! 😊

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@sarahlcrowder]

Such clear visuals! Thank you so much for this guide!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@divergentone7491]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@Mellysews]

You're welcome!

[@suzannec7497]

This is brilliant. Thank you.

[@Mellysews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@greca5903]

Thank you! It was so clear and I understood everything 🎉

[@Mellysews]

Glad it helped!

[@barbarawarner4645]

Excellent tutorial! Thanks.

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@Barbara63121]

You are so good to make these excellent video. Thank you for your detailed teaching with example! Happy holidays.

[@Mellysews]

You are so welcome!

[@qormi1000]

Thank you Melissa. Good tutorial.

[@Mellysews]

Thanks for watching!

[@pthometherapy]

Wow ! Thank you !

[@Mellysews]

You are welcome!

[@LaNonnaYvon]

I saw so much videos on this issues but non this helpful. Thnx for this tutorial.

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@schoo9256]

This is so clever!

[@Mellysews]

Thanks

[@robynmunn8163]

You've explained my issues with tops creeping backwards. This generally ony happens with woven tops for me and I'm excited to finally know how to fix it.

[@Mellysews]

Glad to help!

[@kimhandy1861]

Thanks for the great tutorial! You're an excellent teacher! When I do the forward shoulder adjustment, should I move the sleeve shoulder seam notch forward by the same amount? Thanks much!

[@Mellysews]

It depends on where the notch is and whether you adjusted the sleeve cap. If the notch is nearer to the side seam you likely don't have to move it.

[@kathrynmoore2460]

Thank you for the great instruction! When you go to make these adjustments, do you pick apart the garment and start from scratch?

[@Mellysews]

I wouldn't be making the garment from my final fabric without basting a muslin to check for fitting issues first.

[@cjane51]

Very helpful. What if I need a forward shoulder adjustment and a sloped shoulder adjustment? Do I do both? Which comes first? Thanks

[@thaliacrafts407]

Probably fix the biggest problem first, which is probably your forward shoulders?

[@Mellysews]

You can do it either way, you just want to do one change at a time and then test the fit from that change.

[@kate.cousteils]

Thanks for asking - I had the same question. 😊

[@barefacedquestions]

Thanks for the helpful tutorial. If a top nearly falls off my shoulders, then is this a shoulder adjustment?

[@Mellysews]

Could be. Could also just be the wrong size.

[@DolceVitaGurl]

These are awesome adjustments. But my problem is that my bust is too high and i have excess fabric in the front and back shoulder height of almost all my tops and dresses. How do I adjust for that? I normally have at least 1.5 inches or more. Should I just cut the pattern across the bust? How do I adjust the sleeve after that? Helllppp meeee.

[@Mellysews]

That doesn't make sense. A higher bust does not change the length of the armscye or shoulder slope. It sounds like maybe you have a full bust and that is pushing the garment up and you likely need a full bust adjustment to make the shoulders sit properly. mellysews.com/how-to-do-a-bust-adjustment/

[@hoppaheedahoe2581]

If the sleeve is a gathered sleeve or puffy sleeve, would you need to do the adjustment? I am assuming this is for fitted sleeves?

[@Mellysews]

This isn't about sleeves at all. This is about how a garment fits at the shoulders. If you have shoulder fit issues it will affect everything, including the seams.

[@hoppaheedahoe2581]

@@Mellysews I meant would you need to do the sleeve adjustment for the forward shoulder adjustment if it is a puffy gathered sleeve? I just made these adjustments and going to use the Anna Allen Anthea sleeve. Thanks

[@marieha3987]

my shoulder seam sits well on shoulder slant but there is a slight gap at high point shoulder. please advise how to solve that issue?

[@Mellysews]

Covered that in the video, straight shoulder

[@suemoore2261]

Does the forward shoulder adjustment alter the neck?

[@Mellysews]

If done correctly the neckline should remain the same length

[@wordsigns7841]

Hi, one thing, many times the wrinkles are not from sloped shoulder but an arm hole that’s too big, I notice that is a much more common issue b/c pattern designers rather err on the large side. It’s a different fix.

[@Mellysews]

Yes, but that's not the subject of this video