"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?)