Forward Shoulder Adjuster
Shoulder seam rolling to the front? Rotate it back into position by trimming the front and adding to the back — no change to overall shoulder length.
Put the garment on and look in a mirror from the side. Measure how far the shoulder seam has rolled toward the front from the true shoulder point. Typical range: ¼"–¾" (0.5–2 cm).
Identifying a forward shoulder
Patterns are typically drafted for a shoulder that sits directly at the top of the arm, with the shoulder seam running along the very top from neckline to armhole. If your shoulders naturally sit forward — which is common for people who work at a desk or have rounded posture — the shoulder seam will drift toward the front.
The visible symptom: looking in a mirror from the side, you can see the shoulder seam on the front side of your shoulder. You may also notice diagonal pulling lines from the front armhole area.
This is different from narrow shoulders (where the seam overhangs the arm) or sloped shoulders (where the seam drops at the armhole end).
What this adjustment does not change
The forward shoulder adjustment only repositions the shoulder seam — it doesn't change the total shoulder width, the armhole circumference, or the sleeve cap. The amount trimmed from the front equals the amount added to the back, keeping total shoulder seam length constant.
The armhole shape changes very slightly at the shoulder point on each piece, but the total armhole circumference is preserved. A set-in sleeve doesn't need adjustment — just re-check the sleeve ease after the change.