Friday, August 23, 2013

"Retro" Butterick B5748 in navy paisley

sometimes i go for a few weeks and get zero sewing done and other times i stay up til 3am working on a project. last night was one of those 3am nights. (i don't have to be at work til 10am, so it's not quite so bad.) when you're on a roll, you're on a roll.

Butterick B5748

no i haven't finished it yet, but i've made a nice dent. i'm doing the version without the bow and slit detail. wednesday night i traced my pattern onto my swedish tracing paper (awesome stuff, bought off amazon), cut my fabric, and stay stitched. thursday night i did the darts (using my masking tape method again), basted side seams to check the fit, looked ok, then i did the neck and arm seams, and a lot of pressing. that's where i stopped. up next is some understitching, then side seams, then skirt, possibly adding pockets, then zipper, them hem. when i break it down like that it doesn't seem like too much. i'm usually a fairly slow sewer. and i don't like to give myself deadlines. i have enough deadlines at work, that i like to have zero deadlines in my hobbies.

butttt, there's a friend's wedding next friday. i have several dresses that i could wear. but it's always more fun to wear something new to a wedding. plus there's a good chance of getting some nice photos taken. so, can i get this dress done in time? i probably shouldn't have decided to start this at the last minute. but i still have a week. so maybe i can get it done?

i think i bought this pattern during a 99 cent sale and i bought the fabric back in april. it's medium weight and opaque so it doesn't really need a lining, plus i'd rather not do a lining if i don't have to. the pattern calls for a lining. i considered finishing with bias tape, but decided to do facings instead. i know a lot of people hate facings, but i still like them! i just drafted my own facings based off the bodice pattern pieces. it's really not hard at all.

fabric in the center

i don't think i have enough fabric for a full circle skirt. i think i have a yard and a 1/3 left. what should i do: half circle? 2 front box pleats? gathers? and i think i might throw in some side pockets - if i have time. yeah, i'm not really sticking to the pattern! i didn't even bother to look at their instructions or their fabric cutting layout. although i was pretty careful to not get 2 of the paisley swirls placed right on certain parts of the bodice, if ya know what i mean ;)

i apologize for the 3am bathroom mirror headless selfies (at least my nails looked good, right!? what, you didn't even notice?), but i just wanted to post some progress =)




this is just with the sides and back pinned. i really love the scoop back. hopefully i'll make a lot more progress this weekend. and do let me know what you think would look best for the skirt style! if all goes well i could be wearing this to a wedding next friday. no pressure!

do you always wear a new dress to a wedding? and do you like to sew it yourself or  do you stick to store-bought? if i get this done, this would be my first me-made wedding attire. (again, no pressure, right?)

14 comments:

  1. For me, weddings are excuses to buy a vintage dress. I love having something to wear that I'd never worn before!

    I have made that dress too, but also just the bodice! I don't like circle skirts. I used the skirt pieces from Colettte Chantilly instead.

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    1. I wish i knew of any great local shops with vintage dresses, but i haven't found any. I don't have the colette chantilly, but that's a good idea, i found another pattern in my stash that has a skirt i'm going to use

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  2. Looking cute! I love having an excuse to make and wear a new dress-- weddings are perfect for that!

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    1. thanks, i think dresses are probably my favorite thing to sew =)

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  3. I sew a new dress for some special occasions and I find it makes the event better for me...I think your dress looks fabulous so far.

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    1. thanks! i hope it looks fabulous when i'm finished, fingers crossed!

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  4. I love this pattern, have made a stack of dresses.. I have one that's gathered with side pockets, works well :)

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    1. that's exactly what i ended up doing, gathered with side seam pockets =) love the dresses you've made!

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  5. Lovely dress! You will look great at that wedding. g

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  6. It might be too late for my two cents, but I say either a half circle skirt or the box pleats in the front (and back? yes, I say yes to back as well). I think it would look much better than a gathered skirt. Although, gathered would be the easiest. Can't wait to see what you picked! And the bodice looks great so far!

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    1. i kept going back and forth on the skirt and eventually showed my husband examples of skirts on dresses that i have and he picked gathered, so i decided to go with it. i did think box pleats would look cute too, the fabric doesn't hold a press very well, but it does have a lot of body. and i added some side seam pockets, so maybe i won't need a purse =)

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  7. I have this pattern! I'm finally going to make it now that I've seen how awesome yours is!

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    1. Thanks! Can't wait to see which fabric you pick for yours!

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