Making My Own Isabella MacTavish Fraser Dress #theisabellaproject
Channel: Timesmith Dress History
Date: 2020-08-28

Hello! 

In the summer of 2019, a team of historical mantua-makers and seamstresses re-created the making of the famous 1785 Isabella MacTavish Fraser wedding gown. 

I was the team lead for this project. 

As many of you know, the whole Isabella Project started with the idea of making my own version of the original gown - on my own, by myself, no one needs to know about it, etc. 

Well. The fates had other ideas! 

More than two years later, I find myself looking back on an incredible collaboration that has produced a wealth of information, including PDF pattern and a detailed set of instructions. 

So at the start of the COVID-19 Lockdown 2020, I embarked on making a tartan gown for myself, using the wonderful American Duchess pattern. I tried to capture at every angle as I went, testing every stage, to see if we have succeeded in making it all make sense, to BRING THE DRESS TO YOU as we promised to do. 

Pattern available thanks to American Duchess - download link FREE here:
https://www.americanduchess.com/collections/books-and-patterns/products/isabella-mactavish-fraser-pattern-pdf

So here we go.

00:00:00
00:13:46 Starting with Shapes Cut to the Body – Cutting Bodice Linings
00:15:00 Pleating the Back Bodice
00:19:23 Attaching Pleated Tartan Back to Lining
00:22:01 Cutting & Assembling Bodice Fronts
00:30:55 ~ REWIND! ~
00:34:41 Re-cutting Bodice Fronts
00:41:30 Draping, Cutting & Assembling Sleeves
00:47:53 Making Cuffs
00:49:57 Fitting the Bodice
00:52:40 ~ A Look at How The Team Worked on the Project Gown ~
00:56:42 Finalising the Bodice Fit at the Side Seams
00:57:57 Drawing the Waistline & Making the “Scary Cut”
01:02:48 Attaching & Pleating the Skirts
01:12:00 Attaching the Skirts to the Bodice
01:12:49 Setting the Sleeves
01:26:14 Stitching the Outer Back Bodice Pleat
01:27:35 Attaching Cuffs
01:29:22 DONE!

Check out my shop for merchandise available in the Isabella tartan: https://tinyurl.com/yalz2fm8 

RESOURCES:

Video about le point à rabattre sous la main (aka underhand hem) stitch: https://youtu.be/tNQmrxpm5oA 

The Isabella MacTavish Fraser Gown pattern by American Duchess: https://www.americanduchess.com/collections/books-and-patterns/products/isabella-mactavish-fraser-pattern-pdf 

Mini-documentary by American Duchess: https://youtu.be/43ZTV_YxlgI 

Method to pin sleeves into armscye: https://youtu.be/bkzUIHVgi1Y 

#Scotland, #tartan, #18thcentury, historical dress, #therealfraserbride

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CREDITS

Photos:

► My Mackenzie Ancient tartan gown – Rebecca Olds. 
► The original 1785 gown – Rebecca Olds, Peryn Westhof-Nyman and Katy Stockwell. 
► Except where specifically noted, all photos of the 2019 re-creation event at the National Museums Scotland were taken by Simon Lees (commissioned by Rebecca Olds) and edited by Lauren Stowell. 
All rights reserved. 

Sound Effects:

“TV Static Noise” clip and sound effect courtesy @Yube07 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH0BQtwEAsM)

Music:

“Highland Hymn” by Bonnie Grace and “Raise Your Swords” by Trabant 33 (Epidemic Sound)
Join Epidemic to access tons of music for YOUR videos! https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/v5uc9b/

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ABOUT TIMESMITH DRESS HISTORY: 

I am Rebecca Olds, an independent scholar in the field of Dress History, specialising in original practice reconstruction of extant garments of the eighteenth century. 

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Copyright Rebecca Olds 2020

#theisabellaproject, Isabella MacTavish Fraser, Isabella McTavish Fraser, Fraser, Scotland, Highlands, tartan, history, historical dress, costume, demonstration, Highlands, Highlander, #therealFraserbride, Jacobite, 18th century, living history, Scottish history, historical reconstruction, historical reproduction, historical replica, live event, Jacobite, #wemakehistory, #historymakesus, #everyinchhandstitched, mantua maker, mantua making, historical dressmaker