Historic Rock Ford's Fashion of the 18th and Early 19th Century Lecture Series welcomes Mackenzie Sholtz as she presents "All We Have Is Her Gown: A Historic Pattern Drafter's Discoveries."
Join Mackenzie as she takes you through her work as a historic pattern drafter documenting original garments and how she translates that work into graded commercial patterns with sewing instructions which include period construction. She will talk about dresses owned by Elizabeth Allen Deas, Eliza Lucas Pinckney, and Judith Myers Mordecai with close-up pictures of the original garments and behind the scenes observations.
This presentation will begin at 2 PM in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn. Visitors may park in the area located behind the Barn. Prior to the lecture, attendees may visit the Snyder Gallery and our 2026 Focus Exhibit. The Snyder Gallery closes at 4 PM.
About the Presenter: Mackenzie Sholtz received a BA in Medieval Studies from Vassar College and a Certificate of Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. She worked in the San Francisco garment industry as a cutter, grader, and pattern drafter for a variety of smaller design houses. A move to South Carolina allowed her to volunteer in Sumter’s local museum which was expanding their educational program to include historic dress.
This was the start to her creating her own pattern company focusing on 18th and 19th century women’s clothing based on extant garments in museum and private collections. Working from measured drawings, she then creates multi-sized sewing patterns under the name of Fig Leaf Patterns®.
Her current focus is the change in drafting and sewing techniques from the 1780s to the 1820s. Her current passion is collecting pin keeps, needle books, and other early sewing tools.