Today we're talking about shoulder pads!
Ok, I know the term "shoulder pads" can conjure up horrific images of the 1980s, but don't let that put you off! Shoulder pads are an essential component of any jacket or coat.
It doesn't have to look like this:
Shoulder pads build shape into your garment and help a jacket hold its structure. Without a shoulder pad, a jacket or coat looks floppy and without substance.
The pad doesn't have to be big! A thin 1/4" or 1/2" pad is plenty to support your garment's shape.
Check out these examples of shoulder pads in action! First up is a Doctor Who cosplay I made for my kiddo. I will tell you, the construction of this coat is... not great. I took A LOT of shortcuts. But I made sure to properly pad the shoulder and it really makes a difference in how finished and structured the coat looks!
Here's the last coat I made for myself. The pad is pretty thin but you can really see how it supports the shape!
Sewing tips for shoulder pads:
Most shoulder pads are not symmetrical. Place the longer point in the front.
Shoulder pads need to be hand-sewn in, but it doesn't take much: hand-tack them to the armscye seam and the shoulder seam.
Make sure you pin the shoulder pads into the muslin mockup during your fitting process.
You can combine a shoulder pad with a sleeve header: a narrow strip of flannel or batting that helps support the shoulder seam.
Check out all our Friday Fun Facts in the archive here!
Good advice, appreciate that attention to detail.
ReplyDelete