The Sicily Slip Dress from Sewing Patterns By Masin yielded a beautiful result, aesthetically speaking. There have been some really great versions of this pattern. Mine just wasn’t that great.
Don’t get me wrong, I photographed my Sicily Slip Top very well. Instagram isn’t real life though and my pictures do a poor job of showing just how ill-fitting and uncomfortable it was.
Actually, you can at least tell that I was not comfortable in this top due to the fact that I was wearing a tank top underneath it. This top is definitely designed for the cowl to be deep. I am not a fan of a deeply cut top, it’s just not my preferred style.
I tried to combat the deep cut of this top by shortening the straps a bunch. This just caused a lot more problems. The armscye was way too tight. The top then barely fit in the bust because I had shortened the straps so much that it pulled up the part where the bust was supposed to be and my bust was instead trying to sit in the waist of the top.
Another issue I had was that the straps/neckline were just way too wide for my shoulders.
I’ve mentioned before that my bust apex to shoulder distance is shorter than average, so there were some modifications that I could have made which would have helped with the deep neckline. I haven’t completely written off this pattern, but I also haven’t found enough of a desire to try again.
2 Comments
Hi Isabella,
On my search for people with the same fit issues with the Sicily slip top/dress, I stumbled upon your blog, realising later that you are sewingwithoatmeal on Instagram! Funny how you and I have the same short bust/shoulder distance (and unrelated to this post, you also struggle with the M7969 fit as it doesn’t have a defined waist – same here!). I think it might help to narrow the front piece above the bust so that it doesn’t fall as deep, but I haven’t tried it yet. What do you think, would that make sense?
X Silje (sewing.silje on IG)
Hello Silje!
I apologize for the delay in response, I sometimes forget about my blog but I am trying to get better at posting. I’m so excited that you found it in your search!
I don’t currently feel as if the Sicily is a pattern that I would get a lot of wear out of which is why I haven’t made it again yet. First off, I was thinking that the “length” needs to be redistributed, if you have the same short bust to shoulder distance issue. The pattern piece is an odd shape, but I think you would take some length out of the cowl are itself and lower the armscye (so it doesn’t ride up with the shortened cowl). Then I do think I personally would need to narrow it above the bust by taking out some sort of wedge or diamond-shaped piece? That way the straps wouldn’t sit quite so wide on my shoulders. I think I have some scraps that I will be trying it with soon!
Isabella