I FINALLY made Felicity's Blue Dress! (The one that got me into historical costuming!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
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Felicity's Blue Dress - or Felicity Merriman's Christmas (or Surprise) Dress - is honestly THE costume that got me into historical costuming. In this video, I talk about Felicity, Pleasant Company AKA American Girl Dolls, the plot of Felicity's Surprise, and then of course, I MAKE the dress. I used silk taffeta, linen and a lot of historically accurate sewing (and some historically inaccurate sewing!) in order to make the gown a reality. In particular, I go into the construction of the dress, which I believe was originally an "English gown", also known as a robe a l'anglaise.
I am in fact a Baby Lock Ambassador and these are the machines I use: @Baby Lock Sewing Machines
Embroidery Machine: Venture: babylock.com/m...
Sewing Machine: Soprano: babylock.com/m...
Serger: Victory: babylock.com/m...
Digitizing Software: Palette 11: babylock.com/a...
What I’m wearing this week:
Dress:
selkiecollecti...
www.linennaive... (Use Code Sewstine for 10% off!)
Personal note on the last shot: My little girl dog, Elspeth died on 2/23/2023. She was found under an abandoned house in Springfield, MO so it's not sure how old she was but she was between 11 and 13 years old. She hated being picked up and sitting on couches, so she really didn't appear in that many of my videos, but she was so incredibly loved and will be much missed. Thank you to American Eskimo Rescue of Saint Louis for rescuing her and her brother Gideon. If you're in the area, I absolutely love this organization: eskierescuestl.... and half the proceeds from this video will be going to them to help rescue other Elspeths.
Materials Used:
Pattern: atthesignofthe...
Fabric: nydesignerfabr...
Trim: www.etsy.com/l...
Other tools (Affiliate links where available)
My favorite chalk pen: amzn.to/3zURGrP
American Duchess book: amzn.to/3CQhS7f
Cut of Women's Clothes: amzn.to/3EQTswp
Simflex Sewing Gauge: amzn.to/3geL8ul
Clover Button Hole Cutter amzn.to/36K0TpZ
Clover Tapered Awl amzn.to/3tP7989
Extremely large (40"x60") cutting mat - amzn.to/37GZYG4
The incredible pin dish that I use thanks to @Costuming Drama - amzn.to/3mMgcUT
Ruler - amzn.to/32YNIiV
Favorite Needles for hand sewing: amzn.to/3nx7zNM
Favorite Thread for sewing:
www.superiorth....
Source for Shoes: Americanduchess.com who has their own channel: @American Duchess
Favorite Thimbles from: www.etsy.com/s...
Wall mural from Limitless walls
Me in different realms:
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7:39 Given your infectious enthusiasm, we need a deep dive into American Girl and of course making a dress with this fabric.
Thank you!! I think I will! I’m so hooked on all the American girl doll things now!
@@Sewstine yay!!!!!!
@@Sewstine if you want any help, I was both a visual associate and a personal shopper for American Girl as well as an avid collector. I would love to help you out with any information you might need with the history of the company as well as the research that goes into these dolls and their clothes.
Sewstine reliving her childhood and being absolutely fabulous while narrating it wearing the most iconic dress I have seen 👏🏽
Thank you so much!!
Felicity, Josefina, Kit, and Molly were all my faves growing up.
I'm 100% certain that Ben helped with the dress cuz he LIKED Felicity.
They were totally a ship!
Omg! I shipped them so hard too! And that Felicity saves the day episode!!
They had a bit large of an age gap for me to ship them as a couple, but I did like how close they were. I thought it was almost like Felicity had an older brother, which I liked because I could relate to the way Felicity's parents had such high expectations for her as the eldest child even though her interests didn't match what was considered "useful" at the time and one younger sibling's interests did.
I want to be ‘Hates colonisers but helps out bestie who wants to go to the Governor’s Palace’ level of iconic.
😂
I bet you sure do benefit from being in a “colonizers”country though…
I think AG was responsible for SO many of us developing a love of historical fashion- I got a hold of an AG catalogue in 1993, in my town in northern Canada, and I was madly in love. I slept with it, I loved it. I was immediately taken with Addy, and her courage, and I wanted her so badly. I talked about it for months, I did research into african americans in the civil war and emancipation era, I researched the history of slavery in Canada and the US. I was 7 years old. My parents saved up like madmen (we were NOT rich), and they ordered her for me, the shipping cost more than the doll did, because Northern Canada. But my mom's a maker, and she always made us holiday outfits. And AG sold the doll clothes patterns! So she bought the patterns, and made Addy's christmas dress out of a black cotton with pink roses, and found a close-enough child's dress pattern which she painstakingly modified to look like Addy's, and made of the same fabric. So there I was on christmas eve, opening my one present for the year, and it was my brave strong Addy- in a dress identical to mine, all wrapped back up like she'd never been touched, so I thought it was MAGIC. Her Meet dress was folded at the bottom of the box. I still have her, and I still make clothes for her, and I absolutely fell in love with every detail of her clothes and her life.
What a lovely story and what a wonderful mom you have.
You’ve lived my 14yo self’s dream. She and I are both so jealous and in awe of you!
Thank you! Make one and join all of us costumers!
So sad about Elspeth, the loss of a dog is a real loss. I hope her memories bring you joy.
The scene where Felicity's father comes in with the fabric and you see the taffeta in the candlelight lives in my head, rent-free. You matched that blue so *perfectly.* It's the most gorgeous blue.
I loved Samantha so much as a kid, and I used a hair style that Molly did in one of the books by asking my grandmother to help me do it because of course she knew how. I remember making ice cream like Samantha did in one of the books before I had read it, but afterwards, I wanted to make the same kind she did because it sounded so good. Those books still give me happy memories.
I would watch an entire series of you making respectful historical adult versions of all the American girl dolls. I didn’t have them as a kid bc they were expensive and watching your happines while educating is wonderful
I am now overcome with the need to have historical fashions in my wardrobe!!!!!! I might not have found costuming through american girl dolls, but I did experience it with my childhood sticker books.Also, it would be really neat to see the meet felicity dress.
I didn't know even their undergarments were so accurate! I had Kristen, but she was secondhand and, being a pioneer girl her clothes were very simple. I remember she had bloomers and these cute little socks that looked like wool, but that never led me to believe that Felicity would come with pocket hoops and a corset 😅
Felicity has always been my favorite doll so I absolutely need to see you make another a Felicity dress!
Thank you! Oh man now I want like 6!
Maybe it’s just me but every Design TH-camr has a chaotic moving story. I mean, idk how you did it especially as you have an extensive workroom.
Oh man mine was chaotic!
Is it silly the reveal made me tear up a little bit? Just your smile and seeing you get to live a childhood dream is heartwarming.
I had an idea that I would reclaim my childhood by talking about Nancy Drew who I loved as a child.
Looking back, I can just tell that the historic American Girl dolls were my gateway drug in to the wonderful world of fashion history! This dress is absolutely stunning!
I’ve never played much with American Girl but I do remember Barbie, MakeMyScene and Bratz (Passion for Fashion, anyone?) were my gateway into loving fashion.
Yes!! Dolls are definitely gateways!
this is so pretty ;0; samantha was always my favorite (especially her birthday dress) but i remember buying some felicity dresses just because they were so pretty and i wanted samantha to be a princess sometimes :)
I'm Scottish so American Girl wasn't really available to me when I was a kid (seeing as I'm not an American girl), but one of my childhood friends found the website anyway and we used to play the online games together. As a big history nerd I loved all of them, but my favourites were Kit , Felicity, and Kaya! American girl wasn't a big part of my childhood, but this video brought back a lot of fond memories. Thanks Sewstine
It’s been so cool to watch you and Lady Rebecca make two different (and equally lovely) takes on this dress at the same time!
I've really enjoyed watching Lady Rebecca's progress, so seeing Sewstine making the same dress is super special!
I have ALWAYS dreamed of making all Addys clothes, all Kirstens and more this is excellent
Thinking back, Felicity's Meet Felicity dress is absolutely what got me interested in historical sewing! I keep putting it off, but one day I want to make that, and her riding dress. This is such a stunning homage, you did this dress justice and improved upon it. Swoon!
Omg! I want to make her riding dress too!
The dress is indeed lovely. What I noticed most however is how much you shine when wearing it, I can tell how much you love it, and congratulate you on fulfilling this sweet dream. Everyone should have the chance to make childhood dreams reality.
Yes, since you were able to locate the same print from Colonial Williamsburg. Yes, the Meet Felicity dress would be fantastic! Congrats on the Suprise for Felicity's gown completion and reveal, it turned out beautiful, and all that handwork paid off making this gown more historically accurate. Well Done!
As a Canadian Anne of Green Gables (Megan Follows 1980s version) was my childhood introduction to historical fashion, never heard of American Girl dolls until last year when half the costubers I follow suddenly started talking about them. I loved the trim you chose to make, even though it was so time consuming it was absolutely worth it for the finished result. It was really interesting watching this far more historical make after just recently watching Lady Rebecca's more cosplay make. Both dresses are lovely, but I think over all I prefer yours.
Always appreciate how the outfits balance a mix of what is historically accurate (and in this case doll accurate) and what is pleasing to you.
I do not know much about Felicity since Kirsten (her looped hair) and Samantha (rich girl wardrobe) were more my girls.
Hope the family and other family pets are doing their best with one less dog around since she seemed like a sweetheart when most of the dogs made cameos.
OMG, another TH-camr - Lady Rebecca Fashions - did Felicitys blue dress too this week! Lovely project and stunning result!
What a beautiful gown! I was a Molly girl myself. (I still have her, and all her accessories and clothes that I had when I was a child.) I am sure American Girl influenced my love of history, and specifically historical clothing!
When my mom was asking for name suggestions for my baby sister I said Samantha because I loved the AG movie, and that became her name! She was more obsessed with American girl than I was! She had multiple dolls and outfits-- although she never got the Samantha doll. Her best friend got Samantha, so she got Nellie so they could be best friends and their dolls could be best friends :')
I. LOVE. THIS. I started reading the AG books when I was 8 and was instantly obsessed with Samantha (and asked for high button boots every year for Christmas). It absolutely got me into historical fashion. The more I've learned, the more impressed I am by the details that American Girl puts into their line of historical dolls. And if I lived closer, I absolutely would join you for an eighteenth-century tea at the American Girl store!
I saved for MONTHS to get the $85 I needed for Molly! My parents took pity on me and paid for shipping and tax because 9 year old me didn't know those were a thing. I can't wait to see you do her meet dress and this video may be the final push I need to actually make this dress, it's been on my bucket list for years
It’s also incredible looking back on the movies and seeing how many amazing young actresses got their starts with AG; Shailene Woodley played Felicity in the movie.
Abigail Breslin was Kit, right?
@@bethkrager6529 yep.
i didn’t know the felicity doll gown came in pieces like that - holy shit i would have LOVED that as a child
Oh I just love this. American Girls were a delightful part of my kid's childhood, DEFINITELY worth the $82. We had Samantha and Josefina, but I made Kirsten's St. Lucia nightgown so my kid could wear it at school on the feast day (with the crown and tray with Lucia buns). Thanks for this glimpse into your own childhood!
I can tell how excited you were talking about this dress, it's awesome when you make your childhood dreams come true
Yes yes! Please make another Felicity dress. I am definitely in the category of joining historical costuming from American Girl Dolls, and Felicity was always my favorite :)
Man, I'm really late, but I just wanted to say that every time I watch a video on your channel, it feels like walking through a museum of childhood dreams! Everything you make is so beautiful T^T
also, I am deeply sorry for your loss, Elspeth was a very good girl.
I knew American girl dolls were expensive, but I didn't know they put so much detail into the creation of the clothes for the historical dolls. A neat detail.
The dress turned out beautiful! I was more into the books than the dolls (Josefina, Kaya, and Kirsten were my favorites) and they were absolutely one of things that got me interested in history as a kid
My friend and I used to OBSESS over the American Girl catalogs even though we were adults who did not need dolls--the detail and the accessories were so amazing. We even made a list of dolls we thought they should make (they did, in fact, make a Jewish girl in 1914 doll, but we predicted that in the early 2000s). The other ones I remember were a mixed-race girl in New Orleans in 1804; an African-American girl in Mississippi in 1964; a Vietnamese-American girl on the Texas Gulf Coast in 1974 (a lot of Vietnamese settled here--we're from Texas--and became fisherman); a girl in Harlem in 1924; and a girl in Oklahoma in 1934.
As a Canadian I never had one of these. Although I've been really into historical costuming videos recently, and then I see a video like those with my name on it and I had to see what was up. I don't find a lot of people with the name Felicity, so it's interesting how many times I find it as a toy, book, or movie character.
This dress is absolutely gorgeous. I've always loved American Girl but didn't really know the history. Thank goodness it got you into historical costuming so we can all learn from your endeavors.
So sorry to learn about the passing of your dear furry friend, Elspeth. It’s clear how much she was loved by your family and will be missed. ❤
That dress looks amazing!
I really liked the look of that green outfit in the picture of all Felicity’s outfits!
Sorry for your loss
Thank you! Oh man I also want that riding habit!
Ahh more American girl outfits please!! I am back in my ag era reliving all of my childhood nostalgia and I love seeing other people do the same
Thank you!
My daughter was born in May 1988, the American Girl catalog was in my mailbox 3 days after I brought her home! LOL Your Felicity gown is absolute perfection as is everything you create.
My grandmother bought me the Samantha doll and then, when Pleasant Company began creating the 'make your own American Girl' dolls, another doll. I still have all the Samantha books and the original American Girl cookbook as well as both dolls. They were expensive but absolutely wonderful.
Samantha was and is my doll. I was already into costuming when those dolls came out, but I loved the historical accuracy of them. I am deeply sad that they no longer sell the full sets of historical clothing and furniture for the dolls. The bedstead, the tea set and table, all the lovely things I treasure, the next generation of children won't have. They were a great way to teach kids about history. I might have made a few gowns for Samantha over the years from the pattern kit they sold for her, as well as several sets from different periods, just because I enjoyed making them so much. XD
the dress is truly stunning! I really love your 18th century work. I was a little aged out at the time the AG dolls arrived on the scene, but I DID (and still do have ) a my friend Jenny doll that I loved making clothes for when I learned to sew as a kid. it was a Big Deal when I was finally allowed to use my moms antique Singer machine. a beautiful and inspiring video, as always. I'm so sorry about your girl, Elspeth. Forever isn't long enough with our dogs.
My deepest condolences on the loss of Elspeth. I lost two of my senior cats last year, one very unexpectedly, and it is heart breaking.
I had never seen the dress they offered girls to go with the doll's dress. Disappointing, indeed. BEAUTIFUL results, on this. Simply AMAZING!
It is simply the 'Tis Peak dress for any American girl alive in the 1990's. Beautiful.
More American Girl content, yes please. A Meet Felicity dress would be so cool. Maybe some stuff about the other dolls too. Felicity was often my favorite (this changed not infrequently), but the other girls have amazing stuff too, and we don't hear as much about them.
Felicity (the only one with a horse! And I am at my very core a Horse Person), specifically her riding habit, was always my favorite but, Kirsten and Samantha were up there too.
Watching everyone make their American Girl dresses makes me want to actually make Felicity's riding habit like I've been meaning to do for YEARS. The question being, will my horses let me near them in it? Probably not but, we will persevere none-the-less.
My dream dress! Felicity got me into studying Colonial North America and American Revolution. Now I have my BA in History!
I absolutely love this video! Especially the part about reclaiming childhood. That's basically what my whole channel is about!! Once I figure out how to use a sewing machine again, re-making the ballgown I tried to make for Halloween in 2008 is a must!!
I hadn't heard about these dolls until some TH-camrs started making themselves dresses associated with the dolls. I started with a faux Barbie, make them Disney princess dresses in the 1960s out of wide ribbon that came with some gift baskets.
I loved American Girl dolls!! I always wanted one, I always felt especially drawn to Josefina and Kya’s storylines, but Felicity and Samantha had the BEST dresses!
Love this so much! Can't wait for your "meet" dress Christine! I grew up reading all these books (even after I grew out of them) and the history mysteries and Girls of Many Lands. Also worked at the Boston AG Store for a year and a half during their "beforever" marketing stage for the historical characters, which was interesting to see their marketing team try to appeal more to what they thought might sell ("girly" and bright colors) instead of focusing on creating new historically based products. Although they did do a decent job with research for the 1960s girl Melody Ellison and the focus on motown and detroit.
The dress turned out beautifully! As a German, I only learned about American Girl dolls recently, but if I had grown up in Amercia, I can guarantee I would have made my mum buy one!
Originally, the dolls were made in Germany by Götz. Mattel bought out the Pleasant Company in 1998 so the newer ones are made in China.
@@jmpaul856 Wow, that's interesting! I didn't know they used to be made here, but then again, I was barely a person in 1998, so it makes sense I wouldn't know.
I could never afford the dolls, but I did read most of the books. Loved them.
If I had a nickel for every TH-cam sewing channel I watch that has put out a "recreate Felicity's blue gown" video in the past 30 days, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's interesting (not weird!) that it's happened twice. Your dress is gorgeous! The other channel preferred the pink ribbon stomacher but like you, I've always loved the white lace one more.
I'm so sorry about your dog, Elspeth.
the sheer intensity said by Sewstine when she said it was a "four parter" killed me because I, too, loved all the layers on my American girl dolls, even if it did take forever and a half to get them dressed.
I was a Rebecca girl, she was my first historical, and even though she was from 1914, she had LAYERS!
My sisters had Felicity and Molly. I got Samantha. We were very fortunate one Christmas. I still have her 30 years later.
THE SCREAM I JUST SCREAMED when I saw this thumbnail 😍😍😍.... I had Felicity when I was a kid and I was OBSESSED with this dress. So excited that you made it!!!!!
I believe Cecile was also a black American Girl doll, & her costumes were really beautiful- I can't imagine why they would cut her out...
Make all the adult American Girl clothes you want! I'm fond of the Felicity learns a lesson jacket & petticoat if you are sticking to Felicity :D
ETA: It's funny, I always liked the pink stomacher better
The historical mantua-makers would have been going "gimme gimme gimme" at the thought of 60" wide silk!!!
Yessssss I love this! Felicity's blue dress was always my absolute favorite ❤❤❤❤❤ I would love to see her "meet" dress made, too!
So gorgeous! I would love to see you do any and all felicity gowns! This blue dress with the lace stomacher was my favorite as a kid. I also had her little wooden noah's ark toy from that story. The American Girls historical outfits are all so cool. Addie has a mother who is a seamstress in her story as well and has some really gorgeous dresses. Kirsten's would be so cute done in your housedress style like the ghibli dresses.
I remember the year that Santa bought me Addy. I still have her and now I want to make one of Addy’s dresses.
Wow! I had Addy as a kid and, at least to my recollection, her Meet outfit didn't come with underpinnings like a corset or hoops, which does make sense, but it never occurred to me that Felicity actually had stays and panniers for ANY of her looks!
I was too old for American Dolls and raised three sons so missed out. I was (still am 😊) a Barbie girl. I certainly see the appeal of historic educational dolls. Your dress is lovely.
8:55 Haha love the bingo card and happy to see Indian representation.
ITS GORGEOUS what a beautiful way to pay homage to what started your passion ❤
Wow I can relate to this! I adored Felicity growing up and poured over the AG catalogues. My family couldn’t afford the dolls so I never got one, but to this day I wish I had one. I’m 34 😂 Also I wish the hadn’t discontinued Felicity
YES please make the meet felicity dress.
This whole video and dress are just incredible and brought me so much joy. ❤❤
I just loved your video! I was a first time mother with a newborn when the American girl dolls came out! I ended up having 2 boys, so what the heck, I bought my own doll in 1992 which was Molly. I started sewing doll clothes and selling them at local craft fairs! I ended up going back to the work full-time after 10 years at home, playing with dolls and didn’t have time to sew doll clothes anymore. Recently, I have been sewing again after retiring! I have always adored these dolls! Thanks for your fun video! I was blown away by the fact that you did so much hand stitching on that giant dress! Also got a kick out of you putting your cell phone in the pocket at the end! 😆
Gosh, seeing you wear that finished dress gives me so much joy. The little girl in my heart never would've dreamed such a recreation was possible! I feel very good knowing the American Girl dresses had some historical accuracy! I also loved Felicity. My sister had the Meet Felicity dress (still have it somewhere...). Please make the Meet Felicity dress!
omgsh its gorgeous.
Please make an outfit from each of the original AG dolls! Those books and dolls truly ignited my love for reading and history ❤
I was a Samantha girl (mainly because she looked like me lol, back before they did the look alike dolls), and my favorite era of historical clothing is the Edwardian era! American Girl dolls are definitely a gateway for a love of historical clothing.
Would love to see Felicity's second dress made too!
Thank you!! I think I have to now!
I gotta say, as an amateur sewer (not gonna say seamstress cause I am not good LOL) this is AMAZING. The way you did so much by hand is so admirable (I have 0 patience for that LOL) and the sheer amount of intelligence it takes to make a gown like this is just... incredible. I love how this turned out!!
I'm so sorry about Elspeth Millar. :-((( I'm sure you've been a great human to Elspeth and that your dog couldn't have been any happier to be part of your family.
The dress turned out fabulous. You look stunning wearing it! Wishing you all the best all the way from Poland.
Thank you so so much!!! I really appreciate your kind note.
I had never heard of American Girl dolls until costume and I am not American and also too old to have known about them. The dress is stunning but IMO it is not the hours of trim that make the difference but the contrasting stomacher. Alllllll stunning.
I loved Elizabeth bc she had those beautiful dresses and her name was my middle name, but I always wanted Felicity but bc of cost only could get 1 and I was just heads over heels in love with Elizabeth’s riding dress.
My daughters had AG dolls; Addie and Molly. Although I was as always partial to Barbie, I loved the history they portrayed. That's why I had to laugh when you put your cell phone in your "historically accurate pockets!". I am in awe of your talent and enthusiasm and your attention to details! And yes, please make another dress with the beautiful Williamsburg fabric!
You’ve brought my childhood to life, I hope you make the other Felicity dress. Your work is beautiful! :)
I'm yet another person whose interest in historical costumes started with American Girl. Felicity is a fun one to cosplay because her era was one in which young girls wore small copies of adult fashion, so it would be period accurate for a grown lady to wear a replica of one of her outfits. Can't say the same for Samantha, who's my personal favorite in terms of what she wore. But I have made a few doll sized dresses copying the original illustrations from Samantha's books.
Bless you Elspeth! Dogs show the world what love is.
While you were putting on the gown I thought how you looked visibly like you were healing some part of your inner child and then you made that comment about projects for your inner child. 🧡 I'm glad you got to do this project!
I LOVE THE HISTORICAL AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS AND BOOKS I READ ALL OF THEM AS THEY KEPT READING
I was lucky to have 8 of them. Felicity is my favorite and the blue dress is one of the favorite outfits I have for her.
Fun fact: since your Felicity is about as old as mine, that dress really is taffeta! They switched to polyester after Mattel bought out American Girl in 1998. (The quality of a lot of AG things started to go down after that.) Just one more reason the dress was $25 in the early-to-mid 90s.
American Girl dolls also got me intrested in vintage fashion! Kit was my first and favorite doll and I still have her! I dont think I have any of her clothes but I know how to sew these days and could probably make her some cute vintage style doll clothes
I hope the years you had with Elspeth were happy ones.
Oh lissie. What a walk down memory lane. Felicity was my favorite AG. And this very dress I wanted so badly as a little girl.
Just an example of how obsessed I was, I got to go to two AG fashion shows in Tampa and to AG place in Chicago.
Now my lissie and Samantha are my daughter's.
Thank you for another lovely 'making of' video. I especially appreciated your comment about the historical accuracy of cutting the fabric to 20". I agree, I think that if people making clothing in any historical time had had access to all the modern sewing technology they would have happily used it. If I had any computer programming skill, I'd develop historical accurate stiches on a specialty sewing machine!