Making a Jo March Costume Out Of Recycled Materials! || Little Women 

"Little Women won the Oscar for Costuming" Micarah Screams from off camera

"I know I could use the machine to do this, but I prefer to do it by hand." Collaborating with Bernadette Banner has changed you...

Me : has a bad day Me : sees the names "Rachel Maksy" and "Jo March" together -> this is no longer a bad day ♥️

Rachel out here with a casual sony pictures sponsorship 😳 love u

"little women won the award for best costume" *micarah has entered the chat*

Micarah’s rant is jut echoing in my head.

The High Door of Waistcoats does not close once opened--having wandered that path myself, I can never return to a vest-less existence.

Wow those sleeves are gorgeous! Also anyone else remembering the Micarah Tewers video like 👀

if you're trying to go all recycled, maybe an interpretation of the scarecrow or lion from the wizard of oz, I feel like that could be done relatively easy

Dude with you guy’s love of Little Women and sewing, I think we neeeeed a Micarah Tewers collab😄♥️

Omg now that I’ve seen that wig, you have to do a professor trewlaney look😍🤣 Wow the end result is just absolutely stunning!!!😍😍bravo Rachel! It’s so magical!

Winona Ryder will always be my favorite Jo March.

Just a small tip, if you use patterns maybe try to copy them with seethrough gardening foil (or something similar) and then cut out the copied version. Then you can use the original pattern for different sizes (if yours may change) and you don’t destroy the pattern. Btw your videos really inspire me to sew a lot xD

"Sony contacted me..." SONY CONTACTED ~YOU~. *standing o* Also, that was definitely a gateway vest.

heck yeah sponsorship!! you did so well!! I love a good waistcoat! if you ever want to make a super full skirt, skirts in the early-mid 1860s (honestly from about 1830-1867ish) were just straight panels of fabric sewn together at the selvedges, pleated or gauged (cartridge pleated) to a waistband, and the hem circumference varied from about 140"-180" depending on material, class, etc. (very fine fabrics like lawn, organdy, etc. would require more fabric to look fuller, but a slightly heavier tropical weight wool or a sturdy cotton would likely be closer to 140") sorry lol 1860s dresses were one of my special interests as a teen so some of this info is just cemented into my brain

Your look book film at the end was so cinematic. How ever did you do the flying shots (maybe we don’t need to know the secrets)? I like how Jo’s trousers under the skirt was already like your own look.

Low key don’t think little women should have won best costume, but you are a god and made the outfit even cuter 💕

My mouth actually fell open when you’d put the contacts in! 🙀 They made such an insane difference! Love the finished outfit 😍👏

THE DRONE FOOTAGE! IT WAS SO GOOD! OMG RACHEL. You did an incredible job!!! I just died. 😍😭😍😭

👋 I'm sure that some other sewers/sewists have probably already mentioned this, but if you really are intending on wearing your Jo skirt (more frequently than once or twice) it might be beneficial to actually sandwich the raw edge of the skirt into the waistband instead of just having the waistband be more decoratively sewn on the outside. This will help with the waistband's structural integrity and it will keep the raw gathered edge of the skirt from fraying heavily. Especially considering that it is in a high friction area of the garment. Even though it's tedious and usually not fun, if you just unpick the current waistband and then fold it in half with the raw edges folded under like a 1/2", you can then sandwich the gathered edge of the skirt inside the waistband and encapsulate all of the raw edges. Or if you don't want to remove the current waistband, you can take a strip of fabric (any will do) or bias tape and fold the raw edges under about 1/2", then hand stich it over the raw gathered edge of the skirt so it can't be seen from the outside of the garment. It will make the waistband a tiny bit thicker, but all of the raw edges will be hidden and kept from fraying. It will dramatically help you extend the life and functionality of the skirt, and maybe even make it slightly more comfortable to wear. I really do hope that helps. 🤗 Overall I'm really really impressed! 😍 I mean, your projects are always impressive, but the fact that you made such a beautiful and functional outfit that not only screams Jo March but also Rachel Maksey is extremely impressive. I love that you used reclaimed fabrics, and I love how each individual piece turned out. 💗 And that cinematography!! 🤤 *chef's kiss* 😘 I can tell that you're gonna have a lot of fun with that new drone! 😄 Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous project with us!! You never ever disappoint!! 💗

Well done! Hope this sponsorship leads to more for you.

Look at you, Shakira March Maksy! You are doing such a FABULOUS sewing job! You've come SO far and you always look great. It's crazy how different you look with light colored eyes. I like your big browns. Thanks for the great video!

This video was so aesthetically pleasing!!! Like, the little transitions in between and that end transformation! And may I just say, your eyebrows lately have been extra killer 👌🏻👌🏻

Rachel in other videos: I've been waiting to get a sponsorship for such a long time! I feel like a real RU-vidr now! Rachel in this video: So, yeah, Sony Pictures contacted me

Just as this inspiring video is coming to an end. RU-vid has notified me that Angela Clayton has posted a video on a little women transformation gown. 😊😁😂

When you have been under lock down for so long that you feel envy when you see someone running around in a muddy field...

There's a used arts and crafts store near my house that sells donated fabric for $2 a yard!!

8:49 I was LITERALLY about to say "oh no, she has a pattern.... MAKE ALL THE VEST!!!!!!" 😂 Honestly I can never find vests I like when I go thrifting; so tempted to just get my own pattern now....

Amazing job! Im a huge fan...and also a seamstress! A wee tip: The frayed edge at the waist of the skirt usually gets tucked into the inside of the waist band. Big love to you from Scotland. 🥰🥰

The transformation sequence at the end is absolutely stunning. 10 of 10 could be from a feature film movie. Also it's great of you to share it isn't always an easy process, even for you, even if it's fun. Like...getting good at things takes time. And that's a useful reminder.

I love "Little Women"! Having you do Jo was perfect. Your skills are definitely improving with each project. Can't wait to see what you do next.

Amazing! Also, was that the ONE TIME A MEN’S GARMENT HAD A FAKE POCKET!?! I’m shook!

12:22 wow I think that's the first time I've heard anyone say the sleeves were the easiest part 😆

My generation (ancient) wore clothing our mothers made from recycled material all the time. I can look at a favorite old quilt of mine now and point to each different fabric scrap and tell you what outfit my mother made in it, and what the fabric originally was. Old quilts all come with many great stories.

MY GIRL OUT HERE WITH A SONY SPONSER?! YES QUEEN!!

Mad impressed you so smoothly pronounced Saoirse's name correctly.

Legit thought the shot of you running in costume was from the movie. Damn girl, you're amazing! This is really inspiring me to start sewing ♥️

Fantastic job! Highlights - gateway vest, that falling tripod transition and omg your lookbooks are always absolute heaven, I just want to cry.

Anyone else think she looks like Stevie Nicks when she has the wig on in full force?

I love this, especially since I have volunteered often at The Odchard House (the house where Louisa May Alcott used to live). I went to their Christmas program almost every weekend for two years and to one of their summer camps as a 9-10 year old. Love the vid!

The blue eyes actually really suit you! And I need that tablecloth shirt in my life

Brilliant on the recycling AND the making front! I, too, was inspired by Little Women, being of a (Grand) Marmee vintage, and made myself a cape and muff from Butterick B5265. I thrifted faux fur for the inside of the muff and the cape collar, and made the cape with remnants of black and white tweed and red lining. Sadly, Sony did NOT approach me or I might have made the bonnet and skirt as well. Maybe in another life...

Hello Rachel! As a fellow sewist sister to another, I wanted to give you another way to approach the skirt waistband. Scenario: If you want a 1.5” wide waistband, then you’ll want to cut and interface a 3” band. Then RS facing stitch waistband to skirt. then fold and press the waistband to the desired width. Press the desired seam allowance on the waistband. Grade down the seam allowance on the skirt. Then, fold over the skirt seam allowance, encasing the raw ends inside the waistband 💕👌 I learned this technique from Gertie Hirsch RU-vid video Intermediate Gathered Skirt tutorial. It helped me a ton so I thought i’d pass on the knowledge! Love your show and loooooved the finished outfit! Omg that vest!!! I looove it!!

The trousers under the skirt 🥰 You totally did Jo justice ! ❤ Thank you ! Sony should be proud. You really nailed this ! Good job !

that zoom out at the end of the finished product montage... *chef's kiss*

Oh, my goodness -- you are absolutely Jo come to life. It's Christmas Day Night -- I popped on the computer to get a recipe, but had a few notifications on youtube, then scrolled around and saw Angela Clayton's Amy dress, which led me to the other three ladies, you included. You all did such fabulous jobs. I'm so jealous over the homespun material from the thrift store -- that was a find, for sure. I create journals, first fabric and now a combo of mostly paper and fabric, and I have a huge cache of clothes and fabrics in my collection some dating back 15 years. One of my best finds ever was this awful almost chartreuse/lime green satin prom dress -- it was 75 cents -- it had dropped to the floor, people had stepped on it -- but -- it had a double row of rhinestone trim on the straps, and was a size XL -- well, the green is wonderful for use in Christmas decorations (I just wash everything on the gentle cycle with a cold water detergent and then hang it up outside on a clothes hanger to dry -- works every single time. Many years ago in a conversation with a Japanese lady, we were discussing the dry cleaning of silk, and she said to me -- do you think they had dry cleaners 1000 years ago -- she's the one who taught me the gentle cycle method, and it never once has let me down. I'm also not averse to washing more fragile pieces, such as lace trims, by hand in the cold water detergent and hanging up outside on a dryer rack on my back deck, which gets wonderful non-direct sunlight -- of course, other more sturdy fabrics go in with the regular wash; so I really commend you for promoting recycling. My little crafty youtube channel is called 3rscrafting -- reduce, reuse, recycle -- and, one of other best buys was this -- we have very close to where I live a Goodwill Outlet store -- it's where they take all the merchandise which hasn't sold in the stores around the area, and there are some fixed pricing -- paperback books are a quarter and hardbacks 50 cents, but clothing is sold by the pound, and I found a men's Armani dress shirt, and a woman's $4,000 red Armani leather coat. I had both certified -- and for both, the cost was under $5 -- but honestly, even though the leather was soft as a glove, it did rip easily. Armani has a designer name, but unlike Ralph Lauren, in my opinion I have vintage RL that is 20 years old -- the Armani materials were not as good quality -- and -- I don't even know what to call this, but it is obviously some kind of pink lacey, see-through material I guess meant to be worn over a nightgown (or not) -- but it was literally 5 cents, but the second important thing I learned is this -- if you just buy it because it's a good price, but never use it then it is a waste of money and will end up probably in a landfill -- anyway, just wanted to congratulate you on your wonderful success, and best wishes that your holiday has been filled with love and joy and peace. (I peeked at a few more videos while searching for this one, and it appears my state may be teetering on covid restrictions again, so I have whole new videos to binge-watch !! Best regards, and keep recycling -- Patricia

i got SOO EXCITED when i realized you were making an ad for a movie!! and that movie is little women?!?!? congratulations!!!♥️♥️♥️

It’s crazy how much blue eyes can change a look , super well done on the whole outfit especially that blouse!!

Omg the wig came out and I was like “that’s my hair” 😂

This is such a beautiful outfit, you really captured the feel of Jo’s outfit as well as the look. I would totally wear that blouse with the waist coat in my day to day life. (and maybe the skirt with a different top although it’s less my style I think)

Felt very stressed with looming deadlines and being stuck in the house with my whole family (introverts nightmare)! Saw your name on my feed and instantly brightened my day. Love your content😊 THANK YOU 💕💕

You look amazing! Jo is my favorite March sister too. You and your channel have been one of the best things I found on youtube and to unwind during the mandatory quarantine. It rarely snows in Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 where I'm from and your home and the winter season look almost magical ❤️ Looking forward for your new videos 🖖

I just bought a black velvet vest off of Etsy because of this video.

You are awesome and so great for tackling a difficult artform. I want to help you so much, one little tidbit, if you attach the gathered portions to only one side of cuffs/waistband you can then fold it over and conceal the edges making it tidier and preventing fraying

As an idea for a future vintage costume, I would love to see you make a human (maybe female) 1920s Bill Cipher. Hopefully when the lockdown is over. Because fans of the show have given him a old fashioned old cartoon villain vibe (,similar to Honest John Worthington in Disney's Pinocchio), it would be so cool to see you make a similar vintage dinner jacket with tails costume, and it would be amazing to see you create a different silhouette you haven't seen before. 💛

THOSE CONTACTS!!! OMG!! They totally completed the makeup 💕

Imagine being so talented but so humble!

I got cast as Jo for a play that got eventually canceled because of the pandemic. I was so stinking excited I thrifted a Jo outfit to wear to orchard house but it closed before I could wear it. This really made my day. You have no idea how much!

I laughed so hard when you squeezed that pig toy I almost choked on my tea x) Lovely costume! The skirt looks comfy, and the waistcoat is super cool! I really need one of those D:

i learned recently that you can put a match or a toothpick in between the button and the fabric when sewing them together so the little gap makes the fabric sits better when the blouse is closed and this way it should also be more secure (if i make sense)

Omg Frodo’s dragon! My dog Nani has the same dragon and she loves it! She treats it like her baby and carries it around, does Frodo do that? Also I loved your take on her outfit! It’s stunning! Great work! I wish I had the patience to learn to sew and make outfits :’D

It's amazing how different you looked when you put the contacts in!! LOVED LOVED LOVED this!!!! xx

Aaah those sweeping shots at the end. So cinematic!!! Jo is one of my favorite characters of all time. You did so good!

I love how perfect the reveal is, with this great location and all the drone scenes! Congrats for your work since the beginning of your sewing journey 😍

😆 your behind the scenes takes at the end are always so hilarious! Great job, and fabulous cosplay! And yeah, the vest is awesome

This video is about jo March from , little women . As she uses the music from one of the balls from pride and prejudice in the intro 😅 I love both of these movies so much though ! And your jo mark costume is fantabulous

Don't even know what to say, except that I'm so impressed with everything you make (I just hand-stitched a patch to a jacket and it was exhausting lol) Love you Rachel, thanks for keeping us all company with your lovely videos during this isolating time x

Honestly watching ANY of your videos is so comforting right now. Your Jo looks great!

I honestly love this so much I love the fact that you made everything, it's so impressive. And I also love the blouse, the sleeves look so amazing I think you did a great job Rachel!

Using the piano music durning the transformation part as Jo March oR Louisa' May Alcott almost brought tears to my eyes thinking it was Beth March Elizabeth Alcott who was talented in the playing of the piano if she had not passed away. Also I liked some of the 2019 adaptation of Little Women but really love the 1994 version a bit more. Yet still you did a wonderful job as always Rachel and did Lousia May Alcott proud. 😊💕 - Quinn

Me: thinking of finishing my skirt and recycling my old coat into a new skirt. Rachel: * *uploads a sewing video* * Thank you for the motivation to get me off my lazy ass.

you and angela clayton uploading little women inspired videos on the same day? amazing. fantastic. phenomenal. we stan.

A very successful challenge to yourself! You've made some lovely clothes that will mix and match well into your wardrobe. I don't think that one can have too many vests, so I hope your stockpile of fabric takes a beatin'. Really good job Rachel, I am inspired to sew something. I have a skirt that needs making I think.

AMAZING!!!!! The skirt material is so pretty. For secondhand fabric, I also shop on etsy, ebay, local marketplaces, garage/estate sales, and online secondhand crafts stores like make and mend!!! :)

It would be so cool to see you and your "sisters" get together in costume when the quarantine ends

I’m glad I’ve got my fabric horde & lots of unfinished projects to keep me sane. Well done Rachel! Stay safe everyone ❤️

Oh what a lovely suprise! 🌻 Time to make some tea and to watch a sure to be lovely video! Thank you 🥰 Edit: So inspirational and such a great costume! And that cinematography 😍😍 Wow!

Wow, such a fun project! Fantastic job! Looks awesome; definitely like something Jo would wear. I love seeing your process. Thanks for sharing with us!

This is AHMAZING!! One of my favorite films now and I love that you challenged yourself to make the whole thing!

I adore watching your videos!!! Not only are you just so relatable, but the results are always so cool. The way you can literally transform yourself into the characters seems flawless. Plus as a person who is just getting into sewing I find how you point out your mistakes and tell us how one would improve really helps.

Tomorrow is my 20th birthday and I needed this 💜

Omg, that field filmography was p e r f e c t i o n .

I need to become a Big Movie Exec so I can use my Mighty Power to give Rachel projects.

Oh man this turned out so good! The waistcoat and those blouse sleeves are so great. I'd wear that skirt all the time, i love the pattern on it.

Yes! Rachel, get that coin! hahaha But seriousky, I'm so happy our girl is getting those nice big pants sponsorships!

I don't know if you want to hear it, but I'd like to say I really admire you. You may not be a Professional SeamstressTM but you still have ideas and then! You go through with WORKING on the idea! I have a lot of ideas, interesting concepts, dream projects etc, but no matter how much I think about them, I'm always holding back from actually trying to make then happen. I don't have enough experience, I need to learn a specific skill first, I need to find the right pattern I can base off, I don't have time, the fabric is going to be expensive- I've got an endless list of reasons I can't do the things I want to, and at least half of them are because of my perfectionist tendencies and my unwillingness to start a project if I don't think I can finish it to the standards I want it at. But watching your videos shows me someone who can dive into a project, not get it perfect, and still be satisfied and consider it a success. It's encouraging. I've got a long way to go before I finally tackle those fancy dream projects (including a hopefully movie worthy Pirate Queen costume and an anthro dragon) but I'm getting there, one slightly more complex project at a time. So thanks for showing me the kinds of cool things you can make when you don't let excuses stop you. :3

I'm obsessed with the waistcoat!! I love the entire outfit but I especially love the waistcoat. The whole video makes me happy.

one tip: you can sandwich the raw edges of the top of the skirt in the waistband for a cleaner finish. you did a great job! 👍

This was such fun. I will be ordering that movie tomorrow. Little Women was one of my favorite books as a child and I could so relate to Jo. Your outfit turned out to cute. I think you could easily been one of the Little Women. Wonderfully done as usual Rachel, thanks for sharing the fun. Have a great day!

Lol I used that pattern to make myself a waistcoat for my lady tux and I felt like such a badass. Also, I might make one of those shirts now because that looks great!!

i can't believe how much the contacts changed your appearance! i love the items you made. i enjoy your channel.

Weren't the Little Women costumes kind of lazy? I want a movie that takes pains to get the costumes just right.

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 CONGRATULATIONS on your collab with Sony !!! Super exciting they chose the right person🥰 to help bring this to life love the finished look

6:10 What's that book on the right? "Adventures-Forest and Frontier" doesn't bring up anything specific Also, that wig is pretty amazing!

You're the third I've watched in this series, and I have to say. Every sister assigned is so fitting for each seamstress. You opened with saying recycled fabric was better for the environment and that's just... Very jo LOL

You did a great job with the outfit and it looks beautiful (even though the costumes in the movies were atrociously inaccurate but oh well)

😮 Can’t believe how much a different eye colour changes your face. A brilliant Jo March cosplay! Loved watching the process and result. 😁❤️

I have never watched the video so close to the actual upload :D

The costume you made looks so exact to Jo. Jo is probably my favourite character of Little Women.

Had to stop myself literally squealing with glee when this popped up on my YT feed. 😍 Little Women is one of my favourite novels, I've always felt it's Jo's story more than the others & Saiorse smashed it in the movie. And you picked my favourite outfit of Jo's! Sadly as I'm in the UK I have to wait till May 11th for the movie to drop on digital for me to binge-watch ad nauseum. 😞