American Girl Rebecca’s Regency dress is looking pretty sharp…

Rebecca has been smiling all day, knowing that I was working on her dress…it was one of those days where all the details (UNSEEN details,) get finished, even though they really don’t show much! BUT… you have to make it just as pretty on the inside as you do the outside. Well, at least “I” do… since I sell my things. :o)

The sleeves went in and look nice and puffy… the one of the right in the pictures, was half way in and out 3 times though. I could NOT get the gathers to look the same on each side, until that third try. Now I’m happy. So is Rebecca.

Then we found some pretty little buttons for the back… and of course the snaps down the back…

I hemmed the dress by hand too…

I don’t think my lighting is as nice as it was last night, but I’ll work on it…

I made the dress my shorter version of a Regency dress because I want to make a pretty pair of cream pantalettes to go under her dress.

I’ll see what happens tomorrow…
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne

21 thoughts on “American Girl Rebecca’s Regency dress is looking pretty sharp…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Rebecca’s dress is beautiful, and the sleeves are perfect! I, too, will take one out and redo it to get them to match! Picky picky…but that’s what makes it worth the making, to have something as perfect as you can get it.

    Yesterday someone asked what kind of lace that is that you used, and I think it might be a type of Alencon lace, going by descriptions I’ve seen online. It has a net ground (which I think yours does) and usually floral designs.

    I have almost finished #6 of 7 pairs of short overalls. My LDs might have matching summer outfits, at long last!! (This is a project I’ve worked at off and on for almost 3 years now, I think; of course, I’ve made a number of other items in between, as I don’t like making just one thing over and over!)

    1. Judi in Oregon

      Charlotte, I am the same way, I get bored making the same thing over and over.

    2. Dorothy in PA and the World

      Dear Charlotte, I asked about the lace. I wanted to know if the lace “insert” has a name. I might not be framing the question correctly though. In other words, what is the piece (whether or not it is lace) called when it is attached to the bodice of the dress?

      I have no idea why this is important to know as I don’t sew at all but I am just curious. Sometimes my inner Nancy Drew just pops out (laugh).

      1. Laura in Ohio

        Hi Charlotte and Dorothy,
        I found myself back over here and saw the comment about the lace. My inner Nancy Drew popped out and I typed” What is the name of the lace used on the bodice of Regency gowns?’ into Google and found….

        https://www.regencyhistory.net/2013/06/regency-evening-dresses.html which suggested Mechlin lace

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechlin_lace

        Then I asked if Alencon lace, and Mechlin lace were the same thing and found this

        https://www.lacetypes.com/
        If you click the drop down arrow next to the Lace Type bar there are tons of choices. Hitting Go will describe each one. I love lace so this was really fascinating.
        Study hard, I will give an exam tomorrow. LOL!!

      2. Charlotte Trayer

        I’m sorry, Dorothy; I misunderstood.

        Okay, technically the lace Style is “edging”. When Jeanne uses it this way, it’s called an “overlay”, because it is laid Over the fabric. Hope that helps!

  2. Linda in St. Louis

    What a pretty dress, Jeanne, although I did think it was a bit short, but hearing that you will be making a pair of pantalettes to show underneath, makes it quite alright! Young girls always have their pantalettes showing in the pictures I see of Regency dresses. I wonder what age that stopped, maybe early teens?

    I was thinking yesterday that this material would look very nice on Felicity too, with her auburn hair and green eyes. I don’t recall if you had a Felicity, but probably so. You have had and sold so many, that I can’t keep track!

    You did an excellent job on those sleeves! And yes, getting the inside as nice as the outside is what you do when you sell something,……. or are judged in 4-H or Home Economics class, both which I did! Not easy and it didn’t “take” as well as I would have liked! 😉

    We had quite a stormy day yesterday! Nothing around me was damaged, except for a few limbs down from trees, but boy, did we have lightning, hail, rain and wind! My poor flowers!

    1. Joy in northern CA

      So sorry to hear about the storm and flower damage. Did you get any photos before? Maybe they will surprise you and rebound. 🙂

      1. Linda in St. Louis

        Joy, the flowers are popping back up, but they sure looked sad for awhile! I wish I had the stamina of petunias, and could do the same!😊

        1. Anne Coldron in Christchurch NZ

          Same weather here Linda, a taste of winter. One poor woman was crushed under a falling tree. Levin, in the N Island, had a tornado. 5 years ago I would have said NZ never had tornados but that’s not true now (though they have never been as big as the ones in US). Here in Christchurch we had the wind and rain but not the lightning. Queenstown had snow which they are very happy about as the first International tourists since the beginning of the pandemic are due to arrive there next week. It will finish off our flowers though. They had lasted a long time but think they have had it now.

  3. Joy in northern CA

    I’m glad someone pays attention to sleeve detail. Around here, nothing is noticed until it is photo time. Bad me. 🙂 I kind of jumped when I saw the length of the dress. Usually, I’d be rooting for loping it off to just below the knee, but with this one, I thought it would be a ground skimmer with possibly a curved longer length train in back. I guess the pantalettes will fill it in. From the photos, the bodice lace looks white, so hope the pants are that color. 🙂 This fabric is so pretty. Hope we get to see the dress on Elizabeth as well.
    And here we go with another day of red flag warnings. These winds have been stirring up every kind of pollen and are aggravating allergies. Hope today is better.
    And it doesn’t look good for the planned arrival of the RRFF twins today. After they arrived in Anchorage last evening, I thought they would catch a plane to SF. Wrong. They flew across the country to Louisville, KY, and as of a few minutes ago are still there. Don’t think they can make it back here and then catch a truck north from SF in time for delivery today. No update yet, but I’m sure there will be one. But, it does give me another day to prepare for their arrival. 🙂

    1. Judi in Oregon

      Joy, which twins are arriving? This mail system isn’t what it used to be. I ordered some shoes for Meadow doll, they came from Ihor in Ukraine, arrived in US and have been going everywhere but here… I hope they arrive soon.

      1. Joy in northern CA

        The twins are the Ruby Red Fashion Friends Siblies Victor and Nellie. Finally received an update and now delivery is postponed by UPS until Monday. 🙁 Are your shoes coming by U.S. mail or UPS, Fedex? If it is USPS, I’d probably call them and let them know about the situation. How were your shoes sent from Ukraine? Which carrier? I had a bad four month delivery from there. Should I buy something again, I was wondering who they are using now? Thanks.

    2. Dorothy in PA and the World

      Dear Joy, it does seem that the twins are touring the country. I do hope that they arrive home soon and undetected (smile).

      1. Joy in northern CA

        Yes, their detour from Alaska to Kentucky and now back to CA, should allow me a bit more time to devise a plan. Right now, there isn’t one. 🙂

  4. You did a great job on the sleeves. Will be fun to see the pantalettes too. No matter what that dress will be stunning.
    Garage Sales in the neighborhood today!😉 Maybe a doll or two….🤗

  5. Laura in Ohio

    Such a sweet dress and pantalettes will be lovely. Tbh, I, too, expected the short train version if for no other reason than to have more of the beautiful fabric showing.
    Even though I don’t represent Regency (yet) in my doll collection, I did enjoy reading Jane Austen’s books in high school and i like a number of the movies, although it seems the version I like is not the preferred by others and some I don’t care for at all.
    We had a good storm overnight as well. Very happy as we needed the rain.

    1. Dorothy in PA and the World

      Dear Laura, I love Jane Austen also! I have to admit that I have not read the books. I have only seen the movies.

      I love Persuasion with Amanda Root.
      I love Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle.
      I love Sense and Sensibility with Hattie Morahan.

      1. Laura in Ohio

        Hi Dorothy,

        Back again to answer you.
        I like your version of Persuasion and I also really like the 2007 which we actually somehow saw first.

        My Pride and Prejudice choice is the oldest with Greer Garson.
        My Sense and Sensibility is with Emma Thompson.
        Emma with Gywneth Paltrow
        Mansfield Park from 1999
        I also really like Northanger Abbey with Felicity Jones

        If you want Regency but not a Jane Austen novel, Belle is excellent.

        1. Dorothy in PA and the World

          Dear Laura,

          I like P&P with Greer Garson too but the costumes are not period.

          I like S&S with Emma Thompson also, especially because she did the screenplay. I purchased her book.

          For Emma I like Kate Beckinsale best. The new version is interesting also. Anya Taylor-Joy is quite humorous as are the Goddard school girls scurrying around in their red outfits.

          I cannot warm up to Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey. I think I need more romance (laugh).

          I really like Sanditon. I just ordered the DVD of Part 2.

  6. Dorothy in PA

    Dear Jeanne, the dress is so pretty. I am sure the dolly who receives it will be very happy.

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