I Let Joann Fabrics Pick My Project // Surprise Cosplay!

[@barbzulis8342]

Very nice dress...using princess seams was a good move! That blonde wig is a flattering color on you! Looking forward to seeing the pinafore & other finishing touches.

[@pmclaughlin4111]

i made a similar skirt not long with a similar off grain printing. Turned the fabric and used the crossgrain for the length. The wonky off grain print was hidden at the side seams (angle viewed at, gathers, and movement hides the diagonalness)

[@sarahwagner1031]

It's definitely been my experience as someone with a larger bust that darts tend to turn into princess seams for me 😂

[@cypriennezed5640]

Love the look at your collection! Every time you said "meet dress" I heard "meat dress" and immediately thought of Lady Gaga 🥩😆

[@elizabethw.6154]

Oh my gosh this is exactly what I was going to type. I was thinking the exact same thing, m e a t dress.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

My phone always thinks the same, when I do voice to type! It's always spelling them as meat dress! 😂

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

I didn't, but now I will 🤣

[@daisukidatotoro]

I worked for a Joann's YEARS ago and the struggle for grain-accurate prints is real. Back then, we were only allowed to tear Velvet. (And I think the fact that it would show cheap printing processes is why.) They'd allow us to pull a thread and channel-cut burlap as well. If corporate wasn't there, I'd tear the chiffon and organzas, too. Life is too short to scissor cut fabrics that crawl!

[@daisukidatotoro]

And oh my god that wig is so cute on you!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! And yeah, I realized some time ago that that was why Joann's doesn't rip fabrics! I wish the employees were allowed to do it for stuff like organza, though. I lost a good 5" on I one side with the organza I just bought.

[@jeanetterule5420]

Perfect “puff” sleeeves!!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@jennybartolo4360]

Oh wow! Love seeing these original dolls!

[@roxiepoe9586]

This year's Christmas gift for my 7 year old great-niece was a box full of me-made clothes for her American girls. They were only special in that they were plentiful and looked more like Barbie's style than the real ones. She was delighted, so I won Christmas! Yeah.

[@TealCheetah]

Extra special because you made them

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

What a wonderful gift! And speaking of wonderful gift, Roxie, thank you so much for the lovely paper dolls! I didn't realize they were in my mailbox until I was filming the video that you'll see next week, but I hope you don't mind that I showed them off in that video!

[@lornaperryman489]

as years go by, she'll treasure the clothes because you made them for her special. My grandother has been gone for almost 50 years now and I still treaure the doll dresses she made for me even though my poor Nancy Lee fell apart years ago.

[@saymyname2417]

Cute ❤️!

[@autumn7143]

I never got into the AG dolls, but it’s fun to watch what you decide to do. I loved the cape you did. Hat to hem has been making clothes for her dolls. It’s cool since it wasn’t my thing to see what others did. I’m a little older for these dolls and then my daughter was like me, more into stuffed animals.

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

The princess seam turned out to be a beautiful solution. I can't remember who (Bianca? Karina?) said to take care when adjusting bust darts, not to let the dart point be too close to your apex. Then use a ham and steam to get the best shape. It's nice to know that if I try one way and fail, there's a plan B. Thanks for all your videos, Rebecca!

[@lunch12]

Love watching these American Girl doll makes! They are inspiring to make my own doll collection and dresses to match. I remember wanting all the dresses for Samantha (my doll) for me but always too tall. Definitely have a history bound wardrobe for Samantha as a goal of mine.

[@aksez2u]

"JoAnn's is sure to have..." Me thinking about my local JoAnn's: Don't bet on it. Sure enough, nothing. I'm sincerely fed up with the selection and customer service and where I live it's the ONLY fabric store (other than high end quilt shops).

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Yeah, I mean, I'm glad that there's a few Joann's within a half hour of here, but I wish we had other fabric store choices as well!

[@saraa3418]

Molly has some of the cutest clothes! When I was a kid, I especially loved the Birthday Dress and the Christmas Dress. We got Rebecca's books for my daughters, but I refurbished my very well played with dolls for them.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I think Molly's birthday dress is my favorite of hers. ☺️

[@dillonnapier1239]

Honestly I love that you (usually) use a new pattern with each project instead of using a bodice block and altering it. Although the block would be easier, theres a sense of entertainment of “lets see how long it takes to make this pattern fit” and “how bad is this commercial pattern” 😂 I think eventually I think it would be fun to see you make a basic block set!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

And this one, I even tried to use that same bodice as last time, so even a bodice block isn't a guarantee...

[@christineb5232]

Kirsten was always my favorite doll. I love the dress.

[@britches__get__stitches]

I am ADDICTED to your channel. I have you on every day in the background at work, hahaha! Someday soon, I'll be giving my own dress patterns a try! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! ❤️

[@phranerphamily]

Let's call those Rebecca seams instead of princess because those are perfect and the fit amazing! Great job! Fun project 🙂

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

I love your joyfulness in this video. Thank you for giving us a sweet boost of dopamine! ❤️🥰🤟

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

How do you find patterns when you have an idea in mind and I have no idea where to start? So you had an idea in mind and you went to Joannes and say it was something differently shaped than what you have and so you have to actually like find a pattern. Do you have advice on how you do that?

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

I love your ride her but I also think that you look great blonde!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I cobble together all my patterns, till I can get what I'm looking for. Like, I'll use a darted bodice from one pattern, with a sleeve from another, etc. And then I'll usually change necklines, and just draft skirts on my own. And thank you! ☺️

[@nanettebromley8843]

Love how the dress turned out. Puff sleeves are one of my favourite things. Setting them in is a pain though (for me at least) Watching the last couple of mins of the video some fabric in the back ground caught my eye. Black with a rainbow colour print (i think). Was trying to figure out the print and what was being made. I love that type of fabric

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! I think what you were actually seeing was the dress I had been wearing that day, which was sitting partially inside out on my sewing table -- the rainbow Mickey jumper dress that I made last June.

[@kayta84]

Very cute summer dress! I really love that you show when you encounter a problem and how you change tings💜💚💛💙🧡❤️

[@kristenk5754]

I adore this. ♡♡♡ I've been on an American girl kick too lately.

[@deborahc398]

This is so much fun! I also have an American Girl "obsession", so I totally understand. The outfit is going to be so cute.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! It's honestly been a fun obsession so far! ☺️

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

LOL funny you ended up with pricess seam anyways, when you first got the waist darts into the mockup, all I could think was "Huh, that looks like a princess seam!"

[@janisi9262]

I paused the video at the shirtings, and yes! I love the shirting fabrics and you should definitely get some! I especially like the ones with some rayon because of the drape and silky feel. I once bought a soft canvas with a damask print from Joann, and it was printed SO OFF-GRAIN that I couldn't even use it for the intended purpose; I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Have you ever considered making yourself a bodice block? I know you've had some struggles getting a fitted bodice to, well, FIT, and a bodice block could be copied and then modified to suit whatever project you have in mind. The Closet Historian has some excellent videos on how to go about making and modifying a block, and she's really helped me understand darts better! Those princess seams look really nice on you! The dress is so aggressively cute!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! I thought this one was going to work like a bodice block, since I had just used it. But apparently not...

[@amb163]

That turned out so well!

[@jenniferstocker5462]

So cute! And I love gingham for the summer….Classic!

[@elisabethnoorduin8943]

It's so pretty! Also thank you for showing your American Girl Doll collection. They all have such sweet faces!

[@megankrahl1182]

I was thinking you might want to check the book illustrations for a comparison of where things like sleeves, waistlines, and hemlines fall. The doll, being a doll, just doesn't work!😂

[@joecoloff4247]

I make fashion doll clothing and I love the idea of this project

[@gabrielalcala9961]

I love the American Girl content. Kirsten is my favorite!

[@Historical_Seamstress]

Absolutely adorable! Love it…can hardly wait for part 2!

[@kellyevans3848]

Serious Cindy Brady vibes from you in the wig! Love it.

[@tabby5228]

Love the end result and your doll collection, especially their closet. All my AG dolls and their clothes/accessories are in a bin in my basement. Well, all the accessories I didn’t loose track of when I was a kid. Question though. You mentioned shirting cotton. How and what makes that different from say quilting cotton?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

You should take those dolls out and put them on display! 😉 Shirting cotton is usually very fine, lightweight, and crisp. It's definitely a higher quality than most quilting cottons, and it can be a lot harder to find locally. It also tends to be seasonal, when the stores have it at all, as well as more expensive.

[@shelleymonson8750]

That wig is actually really cute on you!

[@loraforsyth3574]

There are many copies of American Girl fabrics on Spoonflower. Due to copyright concerns you need to search under "colonial" or "Victorian." Spoonflower fabric is often stiff and poor texture but at least you'll get the look.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Spoonflower is way above my budget. I just have to hope I find appropriate fabrics in the wild!

[@liddybird3608]

You are so cute in bangs. Very pretty!

[@kairiwitch]

This is so cute! With the wig, you look like Cindi from the Brady Bunch! I really enjoyed a surprise project.

[@breeinatree4811]

Thank you for sharing this video. I'm jealous that you have so many fabric stores near you. I only have one Jo Anne's and it's a 45 minute drive.

[@AnniCarlsson]

Omg one of those blue white struped patterns fabrics therr looks like the pattern on a skirt I have that I wanted to make a slightly bigger one off. Or at least I think so even if I did buy that skirt

[@vanessatrotter69]

YOU TRIED IM PROUD OF YOU I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTON THAT FAR I AM A HAND SEWER LOL🤷‍♀️👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@kida4star]

Oh my, I can’t believe ECCC is coming up again so soon! I love watching all your videos, but this reminds me I need to start planning!

[@leannmorlan9025]

Definitely had Rick-rack in the 1850s. It was called wavy braid. It was the close to the size of baby Rick-rack.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Really? I had no idea!

[@kyradavis8727]

It looks awesome. Felicity was my favorite, especially her Christmas dress

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! I so hope I can find the fabric for that one!

[@kyradavis8727]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions maybe Zelouffabrics?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@kyradavis8727 do they do silk taffeta? I just went to their website, but could only find poly.

[@kyradavis8727]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions I don't know. Would that make much of a difference?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@kyradavis8727 definitely. I don't like working with or wearing poly taffeta.

[@andreagoodman5768]

I am also going to ECCC! I will be there with my daughter. So, if you see an 18th century Snow White or a Half Orc barbarian wandering around with a tiny human say hi! It's my Daughter's first con. It's her 12th birthday present.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

That's awesome! If you see me, please say hi!

[@alexiscarlton1355]

It's Super cute! Lots of fun :D

[@sleepycalico]

It's adorable!!!!! 💟

[@Chibi-kittenplays]

just saying.. I LOVED your krinolette project. I fail ALL the time with my projects and felt I was all alone in it!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Oh I hate when the print is off grain!!! It feels so wrong to cut pieces off grain but everything looks horrid when you don’t. The dress is coming out really nicely. It’s all going to look fabulous

[@nancywhite2014]

Such a sweet dress! I also think you look great as a blonde 👱‍♀️.

[@kfries1282]

"White cotton twill should be easy to find". Last fall, I had trouble finding plain black cotton twill without any synthetics mixed in, at my local fabric store, which is NOT a small store

[@cherylf7333]

umm...have I forgotten you making the corset that is on your dress form? I'm very intrigued by the pattern on the front. BTW I love the idea of letting chance pick your project. :)

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Nope, you haven't forgotten - it's been on there forever! I made it in a class at Costume College in 2011.

[@nixhixx]

AGLET is the name of the thing on the end of a shoelace.

[@MysteryMommy1]

So cute!

[@FantasticalFolliesCostuming]

LOLOL "Heat appropriate cosplays" = literally every costume I've ever made. I feel ya! Also, never realized until you had them all together HOW MUCH PINK happens in AG clothes. Whoa. Question on that wig--could you pull it into an updo? I'm desperately looking for a cheap (red) wig I can do an 18th century style with for my Bowie cosplay.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I tend to gravitate towards the pink outfits, too, so I think it may be just that I have all the pink outfits (and not all the other outfits). I'm not sure that this would be the best wig for an updo, as it's a little on the thinner side. Do you need one with bangs? Because all the lace front wigs I've gotten from Amazon have much thicker hair than this wig.

[@FantasticalFolliesCostuming]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Hah! And I'm the opposite, not a pink person, so I don't have any of their pink outfits 🤣 Ok good to know. No bangs, that was my only hesitation. I'm shooting for an early 1770's look...so thicker would definitely be better. I'll take a look at the lace fronts, though if you have any recommendations, it'd be appreciated 😊

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@FantasticalFolliesCostuming All the wigs I've used for other projects are in this Amazon list, and I would recommend all of them! a.co/bpJfObj

[@FantasticalFolliesCostuming]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Yesssss thank you!

[@helenemelon]

adorable!

[@emilyrln]

Fingers crossed for Addy's pink striped dress!! 4:00 my dreams are crushed 😭 6:57 hope is kindled-AND IMMEDIATELY DASHED 💀 why you doin' my dress so dirty?? 🥺 Also shocked at the lack of basic cotton solids… wtf Joann's?!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I don't plan to make Addy's pink dress, but I definitely want to make her brown check pinafore! (and maybe her Christmas dress? And maybe her Cape dress, but then I'd have to make one for her, too, since I'll never be able to afford that doll dress)

[@emilyrln]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Oh, come on, how expensive could- *googles it* -hooooly crap.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@emilyrln right?! But it's so pretty! It's a copy of an extant dress that's in a museum in Wisconsin, but I cannot imagine paying that much for a dress! 😱

[@sandiemable]

What a sweet dress Rebecca, and sewn in no time at all! You're one of those sewing Goddesses that can make a new outfit in a day. By the way, I think you make a great blonde. 😊 xoxo's Sandie

[@sewmeonekenobi639]

One of the reasons I don’t like to use fabric with printed lines/stripes, etc. is because it usually isn’t on grain.

[@christineb5232]

I noticed that most fabric store are short on fabric and trimming.

[@dotjohnson4247]

I asked where the bridal appliques were - they do not carry them any more!

[@eileenhildreth8355]

Kiwi girl here... what is a meet dress?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Each doll has one dress that they come in (when they're purchased new, at least), and it's also the one that they wear on the cover of their first book, which is called "Meet (Samantha/Felicity/Kirsten/etc)." So that's why that dress is called the "meet" dress. It's often their most iconic dress, in my opinion.

[@eileenhildreth8355]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions thank you for the explanation

[@kirabowie]

You're Jewish too?! 😃 While I have a TON of plushies, I like the American Girl dolls & I always wanted a Rebecca doll & you're lucky to have one! 🙂 And your matching dress to Kirsten is really cute! I can't wait to see next week's video, so I can see how your cosplay turned out!! 🙂And what's nice is you can wear the dress on its own as a pretty spring/summer dress! 😊

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I'm Jewish by birth, but I'm not practicing. And I was hesitant to get the Rebecca doll at first, because she wasn't one from my childhood, but I'm so glad I got her. She's really pretty and cute, and has some lovely clothes in her collection. And thank you! PS - there's pics and video on Instagram, if you want to get a teaser for next week! 😉

[@kirabowie]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions I'm the same. We practiced more when we were little & my grandparents lived close by. Yeah? I think it's awesome that you got her! I saw Amazon as a very small version of her with a microscopic book, & I'm thinking of getting her for my bday (in a few months) & she can sit with my Chelsea dolls on my shelf. 🙂 You're welcome & thanks! I don't belong to IG, but I believe I can still the pix, if not the video! *hurries off to go see the teaser*

[@michellecornum5856]

This was fun! I did a similar thing today. I went looking for some patriot fabric, I didn't care it it was fireworks or stars or patchwork (-- I'm out for anything I can find, at this point, lets be honest.) I found a stars and stripes, but there was only slightly less than 2 yards. (Two yards, I can literally only cover my head, and that's it.) But they also had red and white stripe and a separate stars on navy. I got a couple of yards of both (plus the stars and stipes), so we'll see what pattern I can use. I have a couple that would suit three different patterns. Into the unknown!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

You could go kind of gunner sax, with mixing all those patterns! Good luck!

[@michellecornum5856]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Excellent idea! Thank you.

[@d011p4rtz]

would you ever do Felicity's white summer dress? if you already have, would you point me in the direction of the video? I'd like to make a dress for myself as the Pleasant Company dresses are too small

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I haven't yet, but I've definitely been thinking about it!

[@d011p4rtz]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions OMG PLEASE do!!! the only one I can find is on ebay being sold for $300+ and is too small 😭

[@melissamybubbles6139]

This is such a cute project. Would you or anyone you know potentially be interested in costuming Joanne Freeman and Heather Cox Richardson? I think they'd make a cute costumed pair.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! I don't take commissions, but maybe someone else would?

[@melissamybubbles6139]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions If anyone reading this would be interested, they are both historians with a joint podcast. They also have their own separate weekly meetings over Zoom and Facebook. Thanks.

[@Susanfuzz]

Just along for the ride… I can’t cope with the AG dolls…they just look haunted to me 😂

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

It's funny - they're about the only dolls that I think don't look that creepy!

[@teddy-3765]

It's looking lovely even without the pinafore. I'm surprised by the dolls clothes you showed - I['ve handled some AG clothes and I have one of Samantha's dresses (beccause it will fit a couple dolls I have) and have never put it on a doll because it's mady out of an awful synthetic fabric... The ones on your dolls an on the hangers looked like they were made out of much nicer fabrics, like actual cottons.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Oh yeah, the majority of the dresses, especially the older ones, are made out of really nice cotton fabrics, and there's even a few made out of real wool!

[@SusanYeske701]

The quality on the pre-Mattel doll clothes was A+

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@SusanYeske701 honestly, even on a lot of the newer stuff it's great. Rebecca's newer Hanukkah dress is so gorgeous and delicate!

[@teddy-3765]

​@@LadyRebeccaFashions I just went and dug out Samantha's checked dress to see if it had any indidcation of when it was made and ... Well... It''s nowhere near as bad as I was remembering it being. I was so disappointed that it was a synthetic when I first got it, I shoved it into the box of 18" doll clothes and haven't looked at it since. Somehow, I built it up in my mind as being a lot worse (more plastic-looking/feeling) than it actually is. My Madame Alexander Elphaba doll s wearing it now. I might have to shop for some more of the historic girls outfits.

[@ruthmiller8303]

Lady Rebecca I have a civil war day dress pattern that calls for 10 yards and the most I have ever seen you use is like six yards so why would I need so much I'm plus size too

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

A lot of those patterns wind up calling for more than is needed, but also, a civil war era skirt takes a ton of fabric (esp if you're trying to match plaids). Pagoda sleeves will take up a lot too, if it has those, and if you start to talk about ruffles or pleating, you'll probably wind up needing more than 10.

[@ruthmiller8303]

I'm

[@MeadowoodRanch]

Some fabrics were narrower width too so you needed more to have the same amount of fabric surface.

[@Zlecky]

It's great to model that sometimes you aren't mentally ready for a giant project.

[@Dar885]

When you go to Comic Con, will you be carrying the doll, like a mini me?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Definitely!

[@anessaharris9947]

🇨🇦😃

[@lynndragon2536]

No cotton twill? That’s sad but some Joann stores are just not as good

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Yeah, now I know to just go to the farther one!

[@elianaweiner4665]

Omg Rebecca, are you Jewish too?? I’m also diving back into my American girl doll obsession and just bought Rebecca ☺️

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I am by birth, but I'm not practicing. But when I found out about Rebecca, it was like -- not only do we share the same name, but my family are also Jewish immigrants who moved from eastern Europe around the same time, I also want to be an actress, and one of my relatives even owned a shoe store around that time!

[@elianaweiner4665]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions that’s so awesome! I love that. My great grandmother emigrated around that time too, she worked in a garment factory and is one of the big reasons why I love sewing as much as I do ☺️ I never met her, but it makes me feel close to her!

[@TiciaM]

Why is Rebecca in Caroline's dress?

[@TiciaM]

Ha! A minute after I typed the comment, you said she was in Caroline's dress (that's the doll my daughter got). Have you seen the Little House on the Prarie dolls that are in the same style as American Girl Dolls?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I just got Caroline, but I hadn't gotten her by the time I filmed that. I just wanted Rebecca in a pink dress, so that's why she was wearing it. And no, I haven't seen them.

[@Mrs.Mallie]

I accidentally hit the dislike button! Please disregard, I loved the video!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I think if you press it again, it goes away? 😉

[@barbaraferron7994]

The pink dress you are wearing in the beginning looks like a cat face. Those center darts on the bodice look like whiskers it just needs a nose mouth eyes and ears.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I can totally see that, now that you mention it!

[@sannabengtsson3044]

Kul att du gres

[@marywest2896]

to me when your neck line is just a bit deeper the dress always flatter you so much more... I understand it's a costume but as you say your dress is for a human not a doll....wished you would have come down at least 1 1/2 inches in the neckline... with a higher neck line and the sleeves ending where they do the dress widens your torso..but that is only my opinion, I always feel choked with a neckline as high as that one and you have already told me that you don't have a problem with a high neckline.....just my opinion, meant with love no negativity attached ok? just an observation....