ITS Time to Sew Itch to Stitch Blog Tour: Overcoming My Fear of Mila

Today is the start of a week-long blog tour celebrating Itch to Stitch Designs! Each blogger has selected a project they've been meaning to make, but just haven't gotten around to sewing yet. This tour is JAM PACKED with 26 bloggers, a Rafflecopter prize PLUS exclusive pricing for each pattern the day it is featured on the Blog Tour!

Be sure to read through to the end of the post to find all the links to each post on the tour and then enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win a fantastic prize from these generous sponsors!

Click on the Sponsor names above to visit their website.

My project is the Mila Shirt, which you can pick up today, September 17, 2018 for only $9.00 HERE!

Additionally, one of our tour fabric sponsors, Mabel Madison is offering $10 off orders of $50+ with the code ITSTOUR. 

This code is valid through September 30th, 2018!

ITS Time to Sew Itch to Stitch!

In my daydreams, my fall closet is full of Mila Shirts. Plaids and solids, flannels and textured shirtings...In reality, my closet is devoid of Mila Shirts for the most ridiculous of reasons: I was scared to sew it!

I don't know what it was, but something about that placket made me freeze up. Then there was the cuffed sleeves and collar all in a boyfriend-fit woven top with no bust darts. Well, enough's enough. It's time for me to get over my fear and get working on that Fall Closet of Mila Shirts!

My Mila Shirt

I know, I've gone ahead and spoiled the surprise ending by showing you my shirt already, but I just had to; I'm so happy with it!!

Pattern Details

For those unfamiliar with Mila Shirt from Itch to Stitch, it is a partial button-down woven shirt with a center front tower placket and a relaxed fit. Mila is drafted for cup sizes A-DD in sizes 00-20. The back yoke lays over the shoulder and the front is gathered in for a feminine detail on an otherwise classic-looking shirt.

You can choose a traditional collar, or opt for only the collar band, as I have done here.

The long sleeves are vented and finished with a narrow, one-button cuff.

There are optional sleeve tabs, so you can roll up and secure your sleeves.

In back, you find the expected pleat below the yoke...

  ...and a shapely shirt tail hem at the bottom.

Getting The Fit

I'm definitely Team Toille. (I always call it a muslin, but I really like the illiteration of Team Toille, so I think I need to start using that...)

Lately, the difference between my upper bust and my full bust has be coming in at 3.5 inches. That puts me exactly halfway between a C and D cup for Itch to Stitch. I started with a 10C, but like my Petaluma Dress from last week, it doesn't give me enough depth or length. I upgraded to a 10D and the whole shirt fit better.

I did feel a bit like I was swimming in this top, much like I do in my husband's shirts. I decided to shorten the tunic length of this one for a little more"relaxed" and less "boyfriend" feel. Here's what I did:
1. Shorten the sleeve 1.5 inches.
2. Shorten the entire bodice, across the chest/back, through the armhole (at the seam of the yoke/back) 3/4 inches.
3. Shortened the entire shirt between waist and hip by 3 inches.

Not So Scary Construction

The pattern instructions start you right off with my most feared task: constructing the placket. I was a good seamstress and remembered to shorten my placket and interfacing pieces the same amount as my front.

The instructions for the pattern are very detailed which made working through the process not nearly as intimidating as I had worked it up to be in my head. You are told where to fold, where to snip and where stitch. It is a meticulous process, but not hard. I took my time and ended up with a beautiful result!

 If I had to nit-pick I would say the point of my tower is slightly crooked.
But, I'm not going to say that because I can hear all of you shouting at me to shut my face because it's perfect.

It's perfect!

After that, I moved on to the remaining details, carefree.

My delicately bound sleeve vents.

So carefree, in fact, that I completely forgot I wanted the sleeve tabs until after I had already serged my sleeve seam closed and finished the vents & cuffs. I didn't even remember to transfer the marking from the pattern to the fabric. oops. 

I sorted it out with a make-shift technique of wrapping the paper pattern around the sleeve, holding them up and stabbing through both layers at the marking with a pin. I'm 90% sure I'm pretty close to where they should be, but I suggest taking the easy route and marking your fabric before sewing. 

All About The Fabric

Surely, you've noticed my beautiful fabric! I chose my fabric from Surge Fabrics, one of our Blog Tour Sponsors this year. 

This particular piece is the Plum Melange Poplin. It's 100% polyester with a great shirting drape. The color is super saturated and vibrant. My photos really don't do it justice. This 2-thread color, plain weave fabric comes in a vivid teal as well as a few neutrals like grey and khaki, if that's more your speed.

I pre-treated the fabric by washing and drying it with my normal laundry. It was colorfast and didn't shrink. It also doesn't really rumple, which is GREAT for me as I despise ironing after I've completed  sewing a garment.

Like most plain-woven fabrics, the Melange Poplin does like to fray along the edges. It wasn't a problem, though, and otherwise was very well behaved. I found it pressed nicely, especially if helped by a clapper. You do, however, have to pay attention to the heat on your iron. I tried to fuse my shirt crisp interfacing, which needs my iron all the way up, and ended up melting my first set of sleeve tabs. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommended use!

However, I didn't even drop one F-bomb while twisting the fabric into binding my sleeve vents, and that's a small miracle.

Final Photos

I really love my Mila Shirt. My only regret is that I've waited this long to sew one.

If you love the look of Mila too, don't wait! Get a copy today while it's on sale and dive in. Join the Itch to Stitch Designs Facebook Group. Besides myself, there's lot of helpful ladies ready to cheer your project and help you along the way!

I feel like because of the fabric I selected, my Mila Shirt is very versatile. 

A longer Mila (maybe an inch or so) would be great to pair with leggings.

It looks good tucked all the way in with a skirt for the office.

Or untucked all the way with a knit pencil skirt. This one is the free Lindy Petal Skirt (which we all know by now is my preferred skirt these days...)

I'm a big fan of the partial tuck. Easy to do with the shirt tail hem. Here it is with my North Point Trousers from last fall.

And of course, probably the number 1 way I'll wear my Mila this fall: with jeans and sneakers! These are my Liana Jeans (skinny leg option).

ITS Time to Sew Itch to Stitch Blog Tour Links & Rafflecopter Giveaway!

I've shown you mine, but we have 25 amazing bloggers this week who can't wait to show you theirs too! All you need to do is click on the blog names below to be taken directly to the next stop!

 Visit our fabulous sponsors and enter our Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win this unbelievable prize package:

Itch to Stitch: 2 PDF patterns of choice

Simply By Ti: Prize of $20 GC

So Sew English Fabrics: Prize of $30 GC

Mabel Madison Modern Makers: Prize of 3 yard coordinated bundle

Sly Fox Fabrics: $25GC

Raspberry Creek Fabrics: $50 GC

Surge Fabric Shop: $20 GC

Organic Cotton Plus: $25 GC

WarmCrochet: Pair of scissors

For each sponsor you visit, you can earn another entry into the Rafflecopter giveaway. The giveaway is open NOW through September 23rd. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be chosen by random.org, notified by email and announced in the Itch to Stitch Designs Facebook Group.