Shoulder Width

This is a shoulder-to-shoulder measurement. You measure between your left and right shoulder/armhole points. If you are measuring for the Simple Sloper, there is always a great debate as to whether you should use the front or back shoulder-to-shoulder width measurement. If you are looking for simplicity, you will choose one, and use it for both the front and back sloper. This makes patternmaking and shaping simpler as the front and back armholes and sleeves work the same. However, this is not a true dressmaker's armhole, so if you are striving to create a perfect fit, use the Refined Fit sloper and enter the separate Front vs. Back measurements. In the case of working with set-in armholes for knits, it would be advisable to choose the front measurement, as one wants the sleeve to ‘set’ on the shoulder, and not fall off the shoulder. Thus, it is better to err to the shoulder seam direction for fitted garments. Knits stretch, and thus the back would stretch the small amount necessary in order to accommodate the slight difference in width between your body’s front and back.

• Place the measuring tape end on your left shoulder/armhole point.
  
• Measure straight across your body to the right shoulder point.
  
• Record the measurement.

Refined Fit: This front vs. back measurement is not a circumference measurement. Make sure that you are measuring the front vs. back from the same points at the shoulder/armhole ends. The back measurement will generally be larger. On your pattern pieces, the difference between the two pieces will appear in the neckline width. Shoulder Seams remain the same, front and back.