After several years of making Irish dance dresses, struggling without a proper pattern, drawing and redrawing until finally I had one that worked. I have decided to share the fruits of my labour with other struggling mothers, who cannot pay the price of a dress or just want the joy of creating their own masterpiece. My pattern offers in depth instructions and tips to help you achieve optimal results. This was not the only problem. Where could I get  stiffener and last but not least "Help".

So the Irish Threads Design Company was formed.

2005 update

Over the past several years trends in Irish dance dress design have continually changed. I have decided to keep the pattern traditional as it takes countless hours to design a new pattern and then that many more to draft each size. Then a huge expense to have the pattern company draft over and over until I am happy. Then I need to sew each sample. Before then the fad has changed again..

Patricia MacKinnon

THE FIRST DRESS I MADE, BACK WHEN WE USED VELVET AND HAND EMBROIDERED