This is the original back bodice pattern, using the sample measurements. Seam allowances have been removed in preparation for patternmaking:
 back sloper |
To close the shoulder dart, a section of the pattern is rotated with the dart point as the pivot. If the desire is to “remove” the dart completely it is rotated to the armscye. This causes the section of armscye curve that is rotated to point away from the body:
 section to rotate |
 section rotated |
The part of the curve that was rotated must be redrawn. However, the armscye curve is often not smooth if the section below the notch is left as is:
 new curve drawn |
When you lay the original pattern over the adjusted pattern you can see the variance (original pattern in green).
 original sloper and adjusted pattern |
 original sloper and adjusted pattern overlayed |
Most people prefer the armscye curve to be smoothed out, which causes the back to narrow even more at or below the notch:
 adjusted armscye smoothed |
 original sloper and smoothed armscye overlayed |
The amount and shape of the smoothing is a matter of taste, some people prefer a deeper or more pronounced curve:
 original sloper and curvier armscye overlayed |
When all of the above adjusted patterns are compared to the original sloper from which they were derived, you can see that the back becomes more narrow in all cases:
 original sloper and all adjusted patterns overlayed |