Fitting / Ajustments · 3911 // MICHELLE · Photo Tutorial

MICHELLE // Strap Adjustment

In the previous post, we explained how to adjust the Michelle pattern for a full bust. If you often do upper bodice adjustments when making tops (shoulders, bust height), you might need to adjust the straps on the Michelle. In this blog post, we will show you how to adjust the straps for armholes and neckline that sit exactly where you want them to.

To make photos easier to understand, we used a navy fabric for the front, yellow for the back.

DO I NEED TO ADJUST THE STRAPS?

Your garment might fit as is but you might need to tweak it if:

Your neckline and armhole are too low / too high
If one of your shoulders is higher than the other

DETERMINE BY HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO SHORTEN / LENGTHEN

Start by unpicking the shoulder seam. Then, put on the tank and have someone pin the straps in the optimal spot, keeping a neutral body position. It is very likely that the adjustment will be different from one shoulder to the other. That's totally normal. If you need to lengthen, don't worry, there is already an extra 3 cm (1 1/4'') at the shoulder planned in the design!

The perfect alteration will bring the neckline at a reasonable place (not too much clivage, but enough to be flattering) and the armhole should just cover your bra. Be careful not to pull too much. That would cause other fitting issues.

MARK THE FINAL SEAM LOCATION

Take off the tank. Mark the pin location on front and back straps, left and right. This will be your new shoulder seam.

Different adjustment left and right / Same adjustment front and back

** If you need to alter the front or back strap differently, cut the longest strap so that the length from the line to the end of the strap is the same for front and back as you can see in the image above.**

Turn front straps wrong side out and transfer the seam location to the wrong side.

SEW THE NEW SHOULDER SEAM

Insert back straps into front straps, using a safety pin or long hook. Pull until the ends are aligned.

Pin, press straps flat and stitch on the seam line your marked earlier. Trim the seam allowance to 1 cm (3/8'').

Turn right side out and press.

Buy the MICHELLE pattern

Happy sewing!

← Different Fabrics, Different Tops & Dresses - MICHELLE & ADÈLE How to unpick a serger seam / Video tutorial →

I found the shoulder straps confusing and they did not turn out even. I think shoukder mismatch was user error and I needed more than the written and picture directions to be successful.

Awesome bag pattern

Great pattern and instructions. Easy to modify as needed. I didn't like the test rectangle and I had trouble understanding it's instructions. But I managed just fine!

Un coup de coeur

Facile à réaliser
Met en valeur la silhouette

Pretty skirt, huge yoke

I made this dress to my own size, grading between my bust, waist, hips and girth as I usually do. Unfortunately it transpires that the upper body / yoke part is enormous in relation to the chest. Unless you happen to have weightlifters shoulders I guess. I had to take it apart, size down the yoke two whole sizes, then take in each of the seams of the bodice a little to match the new smaller yoke. Absolute PITA and the whole thing still doesn’t fit great across the shoulders. Now I see why so many pics have a mesh sash or similar detailing around the top of the bodice, or the skater posing with their arms outstretched to minimise wrinkles, I do love the skirt element but if I was making this again I’d just transplant the skirt onto a modified Fiona to get the fit better around the chest / shoulders / arms.

Good base

I used this pattern as the base of a La La Another day of sun dress. I added ruching detail and adjusted the back a little to adjust where the skirt fell. Changed the skirt for a double layer full circle with crinoline on one of the layers.

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