Tutorial: Broad Back Adjustment 

I have been using this adjustment on Cashmerette patterns, and this weekend successfully did this on the Auburn (armhole princess!) and it worked. I mashed this with a diagram in Palmer Pletsch's book. Whew!

This series of pattern adjustments has been brilliant, Whitney! Thank you so much.

Can a person need both a round back adjustment AND a broad back adjustment? If so, which one should be done first? This tutorial was hard to see--the light was really bright and it was hard to see the lines you drew. You have such great tutorials and I learn so much. Thank you.

This is great instruction. More and more, I am making tops for my elder sister (computer programmer extraordinaire!) whom has a hard time finding woven blouses in Retail markets. So I expect Whitney has the answer for me to help my sister wear 'something other than--always--knits'. Thank you, good Whitney. ~ L

Thank you! This looks so simple. Thanks for sharing you expertise!

So maybe THIS is the adjustment I need! I have to go back and watch this again, then rewatch the round back adjustment video, and see how they work with the narrow shoulder adjustment… Thanks, Whitney, and sending Sunday hugs!

I’m with you, I’m hesitant to let anyone use my serger! My sewing machine I’d be more comfortable with. I had my machines serviced just before the class, what a difference it makes. Excited about the upcoming Arlington hacks, it’s on my list after I make another Vernon shirt. 😊 Glad you picked that one for the class!

Thank you for a great, easy to follow tutorial.

Really loved you on the zoom meeting.

Hi Whitney, This is my first time leaving a comment. Just wanted to say THANK YOU! for this informative tutorial! I've been designing and sewing for 5 decades with 40 years in the custom wedding gown business. However, I really appreciated your comments regarding how our bodies change over time. Of that, I am painfully aware! My latest make is from an old McCall's pattern 7093 top. I've made this many times in woven and knits. The last time I made it in a knit, I did the rounded back adjustment which is perfect. Now, 3 years later, I used a beautiful linen. Made sure everything would fit. But when I tried it on...AHHH!!! TOO TIGHT across the back 😢😱 Since I don't have enough fabric to cut a new back, I'm attempting an "after the fact" adjustment using scraps to add a wedge on each side. Since the sleeve is a raglan, it's a bit more challenging but I'm determined to make it work. Here goes! And, I have the exact body shape and challenges as you...busty, thick waist and slim hips, narrow shoulders. The only difference is my age 😂 Thanks again for the inspiration!

Thank you for this tutorial. Very helpful.

My husband is often a bystander viewer and looks up tonight wondering what it says on your washer pattern weights. Your videos are great and I have been enjoying the tutorial summer and look forward to September too. Thanks for your friendly help.

as always very informative, my friends needs this adjustment, now i can surprise her by making her a top . she had tried on my love notions forte but her comment was it fit but it was a little tight across the back . problem solved...thanks

I really needed this one! I haven’t done them in the past because I didn’t want a dart on my shoulder either. I have a question about doing this with a yoked shirt: Would I just line up the yoke and bottom of the shirt as they’d be sewn and then draw the lines for the box? Then complete as you did. Does that question make sense? Again, thank you for all your tutorials.

Just found your tutorials and love them. How would you do this adjustment on a jacket back that has a center back seam and a back princess seam that goes up to the shoulder? I’m thinking I have to pin the pattern pieces together and make the adjustment from there. Not sure though. Thank you!

This is a very timely demonstration! I had just made a toile of the Myosotis bodice, mostly to confirm that I would be swimming in the C-cup that D & D does. (I was) A nice surprise was that the shoulders and short sleeves feel just right. The only place where it felt tight was when wrapping my arms around to the front, it was tight about mid-armhole. Then I was wondering whether this was and issue; when I take out the fabric from the front is that going to get worse? I have just started not using the patterns that had a C-cup, but I feel this could be a good pattern for me. I love the fabric on your shirt in the intro, btw 😁

Thanks for the tutorial. Would be great if you could explain how to do this on a blazer pattern that has a side bodice piece. I’m stumped trying to figure this out

Thanks for the tutorial- what would you do if the pattern had a yoke?.

This was just what I needed, thank you so much, one question though. What would be the maximum broad back adjustment you could do withy this this type of adjustment?

Great Great Great 💕

Great info! I do have one question though. When you've cut out the square from the original pattern & added the half inch in the pink paper, Why wouldn't you just cut off a half inch from the center piece you just cut off of the pattern? Then you wouldn't have to redraw around the arm hole. Does this make sense?

Could I make this adjustment on the left side only and cut a separate right pattern as is? I have a protruding left shoulder blade. Thank you so much!

I’m like you. I have narrow shoulders but I am wide at the back.

Thanks for the video. I just have one question. As you've altered the shape of the bodice side seam near the armhole, do you have to change the shape of the front bodice pattern piece so the two side seams match? I'm new to adjustments and have found this video really useful. I'm working on a toile and thinking I need to do a third one!

How would you do this for a pattern with a grown on sleeve? I’ve made my wearable muslin for the Fringe Dress by chalk and notch and everything looks ok nothing is tight until I bring my arms up and also reach them forward. I have done a broad back adjustment before for tops and it helps. So I’m guessing I need one for the Fringe Dress… I just have no idea how to do it with a grown on sleeve.

Thanks so much. I need to try this. Darn posture and genes. I am thinking I also need a broad shoulder as well, which adj do you recommend I do first? Thanks!

When the lower back of a store bought blazer down by your pants goes up at the end instead of straight across, how do you make this look right? Do you lengthen the back to overcompensate and make sure it doesn’t rise?

Thank you for your great instructions. This seemed to blow out all of a sudden and I couldn't see much detail...did you notice this?

Do you have to do anything to the slope of the shoulder on the front piece?

I feel like this is exactly what I need, but I do have a question. What is the best way to go about making this adjustment on a back with a yoke eg. Rhapsody Blouse?

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