Our Story

Creating patterns designed to flatter women with REAL figures!

Pamela's Patterns was started in 2005 - quite by accident. After teaching pattern fitting using the Palmer/Pletsch tissue fitting method for six years, Pamela realized that the majority of her customers had to do adjustments to commercially produced patterns. The slender frame and small bust that patterns were designed for didn't fit the "real" women that were taking her classes. While teaching a t-shirt class with one of these patterns - which required one class just to do the pattern fitting - she thought that perhaps she could speed up the process by making a pattern for her customers that already had the most common adjustments built in. Not having ever designed and graded a multi size pattern before was an eye opening experience. Many prototypes and try-ons by customers later, the pattern was set. She wrote out a set of basic instructions (no graphics), took a photo with her little camera (no cameras on cell phones back then) and sold about 400 patterns in the sewing store she taught at. She was thrilled! She designed a few more patterns for her customers and thought that was the end of it.

While writing a serger article for Threads magazine, Pamela's editor asked if there was anything special she was working on. Pamela sent her the patterns, Threads featured them in the Notions section of the magazine, and the orders started pouring in. Pamela had to learn very fast how to get patterns printed in bulk, do graphics for the instructions and covers, create a website, and how to ship. It was crazy! After a couple years, she gave up her manager job at the sewing center to concentrate on teaching and pattern making. A couple years after that, she started traveling around the country as a national sewing and fitting instructor, and to start the East Coast Palmer/Pletsch Sewing Schools. In 2016, Pamela moved the business out of her home and into The Studio at Pamela's Patterns in Vernon CT where she runs the business and teaches classes and workshops. She is still traveling as a national instructor and designing simple-to-make and well-fitting patterns for "real" women.

The Difference

From Pamela, Creator and Owner of Pamela's Patterns: "I have had the unique opportunity to work with hundreds of women over the years to help them achieve a good fit from commercial patterns. While doing this, I found that many of the pattern adjustments we were doing were consistent for the majority of women. As a result, I decided to design patterns that reflect these common changes, resulting in less changes to the pattern and garment during the construction process."

Commercial patterns go through a computer drafting program that doesn't allow for these common changes to be made. Pamela's Patterns are hand drafted with many prototypes before they go into production.

Pamela's Patterns instructions are written as if you were taking a class with Pamela as your instructor! There are simple to follow instructions and plenty of fitting advice so that you get the best fitting garment possible.

For even more in depth sewing and fitting instruction, view one of her instructional DVD's!

Compare Us to Commercial Patterns

Here are just a few things that make Pamela's Patterns different from commercial patterns:

Commercial Patterns Pamela's Patterns
Shoulder seam sits too far back on body A forward shoulder adjustment is drafted into the pattern
Shoulder seam extends beyond natural shoulder Shoulder seams is narrower to give a more realistic fit, especially in larger sizes
Back neckline is not high enough A high round back is incorporated into the pattern
Armholes are too long, creating a fold in the armhole area The option to shorten (or petite) the armhole area to bring the armhole higher.
Garment pulls across the bust due to a full bustline Choose from two fronts - darted and undarted for a smooth finish no matter what your cup size!
Too much fabric in the waist area Built -in "essence of waist"
Too tight though the hips and tummy Generous ease in the hip and tummy areas
Sizing never seems to be right More realistic sizing