Skip to main content

Feature: Pamela's Patterns

Have you been working with commercial patterns and not getting the results you want? Well if you feel this way, you need to try Pamela's Patterns! Pamela Leggett, creator of Pamela's Patterns, has been teaching how to sew since 1981. She specializes is pattern fitting which is clearly seen in her line of patterns, which are made to fit more like ready-to-wear clothes.

In 2012, she was proud to bring the Palmer/Pletch Sewing School to the east coast. Along with Pati Palmer herself, she taught the classes at Steve's Sewing, Vacuum and Quilting in King of Prussia, PA. The main Palmer/ Pletch Sewing School is located at Fabric Depot in Portland, OR. 

In keeping with our theme of everything Valentine's, Love and Lace, we especially wanted to feature Pamela's pattern entitled, UnMentionables Worth Mentioning. This pattern is for the "unmentionables" aka undergarments! She includes a pattern for a cami-illusion, slip and panties.


The cami-illusion can be made from scraps in your stash. It attaches to your bra straps making it look like you're wearing a camisole.

The No "VPL" (visble panty lines) Undies are made from stretch laces and knits. These can be made from stretch lace trims, stretch  lace yardage, knits and even scraps of theses fabrics from your stash.

The Smoothing Slips are slips that smooth out anything you don't want to see under a dress or skirt. It is meant to be a fitted slip, not a full gathered slip. The slips can be made from tricot knits and charmeuses with stretch. 


Pamela has a number of videos highlighting her patterns. She has a really nice video for the Unmentionables Worth Mentioning pattern. She shares the type of fabrics and elastics you will need to use to create beautiful undergarments! The great thing is that most of the items in this pattern can be made from scraps! You can find a link to her other videos on her website.

Watching her video really inspired me to try my hand at making my own undergarments! It seemed a little intimidating to me in the past, but now that I know it is SO easy, I'll give it a try. In the meantime, keep following Kaitlin's progress on her Sew Along: Lingerie.

Pamela has a lot of new things coming out this year and I got the inside scoop directly from her! She will have a new pattern called, Pants....Perfected! This pattern features the Magic Pants and Grown Up Leggings. She will also be revamping some of her current patterns including the Versatile Twin Set with more options -- colorblocking and a duster-style cardi. And lastly, she just finished taping a Serger DVD with Threads Magazine and Taunton Press. This DVD should be available in fall 2013. To stay up-to-date on these and other updates, bookmark Pamela's website, Pamela's Patterns!

Comments

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Back In The Saddle

If you don’t know in October my beloved Bernina sewing machine blew a fuse and started smoking while I was using it. She went to the shop for repairs, and then I moved. So it’s been a bit since I’ve sewed last and I’ve had trouble getting back into it. I knew I needed a simpler project to get me going again. Julie sewed up a Jarrah sweater recently ( restock coming soon! ) and gushed about how simple and rewarding a project it was. Then we got in this beautiful wool/cashmere sweater knit from England. I was seeing lighthouse keeper, sheep herder in the highlands. I knew it had to be my Jarrah sweater. I did lengthen the bodice by 3 inches. I actually sewed up a mock up with the curved hemline, but decided that wasn’t for me and went with the straight hem. Of course I took zero photos of said mock up.  Oops. Otherwise I sewed it up in a size 6 as is. Using the serger this really does sew up quickly. The dropped shoulder creates clean, simple lines that make it easy to sew u...

Made By A Fabricista: Simplicity 8847

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make!  Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...

Made By A Fabricista: From My Imagination to My Closet

One of my favorite parts of sewing is taking an idea that exists only in my head and turning it into something I can actually wear. This project was exactly that—a quick, intuitive exercise in imagination, experimentation, and trusting my process, brought to life with Fabric Mart’s sweatshirt fleece. I started with a loose concept rather than a fixed plan. I knew I wanted something comfortable, but still fashion-forward—elevated loungewear that felt intentional rather than basic. Fabric choice was key, and Fabric Mart’s sweatshirt fleece ended up being the perfect foundation. Working with Fabric Mart Sweatshirt Fleece This fleece was an absolute dream to work with. It has a slight stretch, which made the final outfit incredibly comfortable while still maintaining structure. After pre-washing, the fabric held up beautifully with no pilling or texture issues, which is always a big win. It sewed smoothly and handled like a fabric that wants to be worn, not babied. Safe to say, I’m offici...