The Shoulders Are Too Wide On My Pattern. How do I fix that? If you are just new to the wonderful world of sewing, Congratulations! It's lots of fun, full of challenges, and yes, frustration too! Learning how to make fitting changes on the flat pattern can save time, dollars, and disappointment in the final fitting of your project. My quick tutorial will show you how to overcome a common fitting problem with a simple fix. Is the shoulder measurement on a pattern wider than yours? Having the shoulders fit incorrectly can negatively affect the look of your finished project. When I studied Apparel Design in college (Class of '76 believe it or not!), pattern-drafting was one of my favorite courses. To me, it was just amazing that you could take a flat piece of paper, mark out some curves and darts, and make it fit the topography of a body. I hope my tutorial makes sense for you. If it doesn't, just ask any questions in the comments and I promise to reply as soon as I can. One very important thing to have on hand is some muslin or inexpensive cotton fabric, so that you can do a test run. I ruined a few garments before I finally figured that out! Anyway, here goes: The first picture shows how to properly measure your shoulder width. At the top of your shoulders, there is a little bone that kind of sticks up at the end of the collar bone. Measure across from one to the other, curving the tape slightly, as in my diagram. Following the curve will make your shoulder measurement more accurate, and keep your garment from pulling uncomfortably across the back. Divide that measurement in half. This will be the measurement for your pattern from the center back to the shoulders. Drawing the Blue Lines as they're shown in the next photo gives you the starting point for the measurement you took. The Red Line indicates the curve from the center back of your neck to the shoulder edge. The Purple Line is where you mark your new pattern line taken from your shoulder measurement. Blend the purple line just to the curve of the underarm. Be careful not to cut all the way down under the arm, or you will have pulling in the fabric of your garment. You can also make this adjustment on a finished project or purchased clothes. It's really quick and can make a big difference. Hope you guys all have a great day, and keep on sewing! Val Linking To These Fine Blogs: Worthwhile Wednesdays @ Crafty Allie Work It Wednesday @ The Happy Housie Krafty Inspiration Thursdays @ Krafty Cards etc. Friday Link Party @ The Pin Junkie Say G'Day @ Natasha In Oz Monday Funday @ Lines Across Wake Up Wednesday @ Sewing4Sophia