Definition
A drop shoulder is a sleeve style in which the shoulder seam extends past the natural shoulder, so the armhole seam sits lower, on the upper arm.
On a drop shoulder, the bodice is wider across the shoulders than the body, and the sleeve starts partway down the arm. The sleeve cap is lower and flatter than on a standard set-in sleeve, sometimes almost straight, so the sleeve can be sewn in flat before the side seams with little or no easing.
The look is relaxed: sweatshirts, oversized T-shirts, boxy tops and sweaters. The drop is a form of design ease in the shoulder line, usually between 3 and 10 cm (1 1/4 and 4 in), from a slight relaxation to a strongly oversized shape. A larger drop goes with a deeper armhole and a shorter sleeve, so the total arm length stays right.
Why sewists like it:
- Easy to sew: no puckered sleeve caps, since the sleeve goes in flat.
- Forgiving fit: the shoulder width does not need to match yours exactly.
- Comfortable movement for casual garments.
Its limits: on a fitted garment it looks sloppy, and in stiff fabric it creates folds under the arm.
In Sewly, choosing a relaxed or oversized fit on the sweatshirt drops the shoulder line as part of the fit. Compare with the sleeve cap of a standard set-in sleeve and with the kimono sleeve.