Palmer/Pletsch
Connecticut Sewing School

Connecticut workshops are taught by Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor Pamela Leggett. They are held in beautiful Vernon, Connecticut, at Pamela’s Patterns Fashion Sewing & Fitting Studio.

Pamela's Patterns Studio

Introducing Pamela Leggett

Pamela has been teaching sewing since 1981 and has been teaching Palmer/Pletsch Fit and Pant Fit classes since 1999. Specializing in pattern fitting, fine garment sewing skills, knits and serging, she has developed a fun and informative teaching style that is available in her patterns, social media, YouTube channel. One of Pamela’s passions is creating garments that flatter and fit the wearer. Her desire to teach others to achieve the perfect fit led her to the Palmer/Pletsch pattern fitting method, which she has used to help hundreds of women successfully achieve good fit and a renewed love of garment sewing. It is with this knowledge that she created Pamela’s Patterns, which have many fitting solutions and adjustments built in the patterns. Pamela’s Patterns have been reviewed and featured in magazines and on-line review sites. Pamela is a contributing writer, book author and video personality for Threads Magazine, an instructor for Craftsy, director of the Palmer/Pletsch Philadelphia and Connecticut Sewing Workshops and a national sewing/serging educator. She has also appeared on PBS’s Sewing with Nancy and Canada’s The Shopping Channel. Pamela lives in Connecticut, where she operates her business and has a teaching program at The Studio at Pamela’s Patterns in Vernon CT. She is a national instructor, teaching in-person and virtual classes for guilds, stores, and shows.
Interior of Pamela's Patterns Sewing Studio
Pamela Leggett

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

In the classroom we offer coffee, water, and snacks, and, at midday, a wonderful lunch. Dinners are on your own.

A BRING LIST of what you need to bring for each class, along with other information, is available as a pdf to download from each class event webpage. Just start looking for a class that interests you! If you have the Palmer/Pletsch book that is being used as a reference for the class, bring it.

A special GRADUATION dinner will be held at the completion of each workshop. It’s a time to socialize in a relaxed atmosphere and share the whys of your sewing, your personal interests and your aspirations. In a final ceremony, completion certificates will be awarded.

workshop lunch at Pamela's Patterns Studio

Optional Activities

teacher training

TEACHER TRAINING

Teacher Training is available in conjunction with the Fit workshops. The Fit class description pages have more information available as well as how to sign up! Teacher training is an excellent way to cement all the new skills you learned!

workshop students shopping at Mood Fabrics in New York City

NYC FABRIC SHOPPING TOUR

The day after the workshop, join Pamela Leggett for a guided shopping tour of New York City’s fabric stores throughout the garment district. You will leave for NYC around 7:30 am and return around 9:00 pm. New York City is a fabulous place to visit and shop for fabrics, trims, buttons and so much more!  Pamela will be your guide for the day to explore Mood (Project Runway’s store), B & J’s (Pamela’s favorite) and other stores in the Garment District.The $150 tour price includes transportation, the fabric tour and lunch. Contact Pamela directly for more information and to reserve your spot — pamela@pamelaspatterns.com. 

Men of the Cloth movie

DINNER AND A MOVIE

If enough people are interested, we will order in dinner and watch a fashion-related movie. Pamela has several that you will enjoy (a customer favorite is the independent smash, Men Of The Cloth). There is no charge for this; everyone pays for their own dinner.

Pamela Leggett teaching dressforms

PRE-WORKSHOP CLASS: MAKE A CUSTOM DRESS FORM

Join Pamela the day before a fit or knits workshop to make a Custom Dress Form—the perfect replica of yourselfto aid in your fitting once you get home! $175 includes kit and lunch. Contact Pamela directly for more information, supply list, and to reserve your spot — pamela@pamelaspatterns.com.

A dress form is a useful tool for fitting and design. The problem is getting one to fit all your curves and “scallops.” In this class, we will use an adjustable form that you will “build and pad” to look just like you!  Other than the dress form, the supplies are simple—a bra and undies, batting and fiberfill, and some bandaging from the drug store. We’ll finish the form with a custom cover. With the skills you learn, you will be able to change the dress form as your body changes. You will now be well equipped for your fitting and design challenges!

Where to Stay and How to Get There

The closest hotel to the studio is the Holiday Inn Express Vernon-Manchester, located 2 miles from Pamela’s Patterns Studio. It features a pool, gym, and complimentary breakfast. The hotel is adjacent to a shopping center with many stores and restaurants. If you are flying in, Pamela will arrange your transportation to and from the hotel to the studio. Special workshop attendee rates are available. More options can be found in the Bring Lists for each workshop.