I no longer buy pre-made shoulder pads. The last pair I brought years ago consisted of expensive small wads that were not rounded like a shoulder. When I make a jacket, I make a pair of shoulder pads using the jacket’s front and back pattern pieces. I buy yards of fusible fleece when it’s on sale and use remnants of interfacing and cotton, so my pads are not expensive. Customizing pads to accommodate fitting problems is easy. A client has one shoulder that is higher than the other, so I make the left shoulder pad with 4 layers of fleece and the right shoulder pad with 8 layers of fleece, giving her a balanced appearance.
It takes me about 15 minutes to make a pair of shoulder pads. Here’s a slideshow demonstration.
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April 1, 2013 at 11:11 am
Thanks for the very detailed instructions!
November 11, 2013 at 5:55 pm
This is definitely the best shoulder pad tutorial I’ve found. I like that it starts you off drafting the exact size you need. Thank you!
November 16, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Thank you so much for the comment! I am glad the tutorial brought value to you and your sewing.
November 24, 2013 at 12:24 am
Great tutorial! Thank you so much for posting it.
December 20, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Superb demo! I just completed my shoulder pads and they are beautiful. Easy to follow instructions and photos.
December 26, 2013 at 10:38 am
Thank you so much for the great comment. I have never used the word beautiful to describe shoulder pads, but I must admit I do admire a pair when I am done making them. Have a wonderful sewing day!
January 10, 2014 at 10:13 am
Wonderful, clear instructions. Thank you.
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March 31, 2014 at 11:33 am
Reblogged this on Sew Your Heart Out and commented:
Reposting this because I know I will want to refer back to the tutorial in the future. 🙂
March 31, 2014 at 11:35 am
Fortunately I have access to a shop with a range of shouder pads but for sure it is always good to know how to make them.
Thanks a lot!
August 14, 2014 at 11:30 pm
My second post 8 months later: I finished my second pair and they are better than my first pair. I so appreciate clear, simple, functional instructions such as these.
December 28, 2014 at 1:30 pm
This is awesome thank you!
January 19, 2015 at 12:27 am
Outstanding pressntation. Can you do a raglan shoulder pad? Thanks
March 1, 2015 at 4:36 am
Thank you so much for such a detailed tutorial. Can’t wait to try them.
April 11, 2015 at 10:01 pm
I cannot find the woven interfacing you used. What product is this? Where can I order or purchase? Thanks
April 12, 2015 at 4:59 am
Hi. The interfacing I used is called Hymo. It’s a canvas interfacing used in tailoring. There’s no need to buy this just for shoulder pads. That was a remnant I used. You can use any crisp piece of woven interfacing you have.
I hope my answer was helpful.
April 13, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Thank You!
September 28, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Great tutorial–and the slides are easier to study than a video would be. Thank you!
February 10, 2016 at 11:23 pm
The best tutorial I have ever used. It was step by step and I could pause the slide show as I followed along. My first set of shoulder pads are perfect! Thank you!
July 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial. I am sewing 1890 to 1910 gentleman sporting suit and this is what I needed to finish this suit so it would look perfect.
September 10, 2016 at 5:08 am
This is amazing, thank you very much for sharing with us! I hate the pads I can buy here as most of them are too thick for my taste, and it is impossible to find any that is not thicker than 1 cm and not a piece of oddly shaped sponge, covered with some fabric. Now I can make customized pads for my frame and won’t look like a body builder in my jackets 🙂
February 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Such clear concise instruction. Many thanks!
March 10, 2019 at 2:01 am
Made my first pair and they are pretty good. I tried serging the edge but it was so circular it kept slipping off the fabric, so I will follow your directions for next one. Really appreciate the time you put into the instructions. The step by step was so helpful. Thank you!!!