The inaugural PatternCon, a new convention for people who love to design sewing patterns and sew garments, was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month. Over 250 attendees from around the globe gathered for two days to share their passion for sewing patterns with fellow aficionados. The event was an overwhelming success, featuring 36 expert-led workshops on pattern drafting, draping, fitting, grading, projector cutting, historic costuming, and vintage patterns, among others.
Three inspiring keynote addresses were delivered by industry icons Mimi G., Aaronica B. Cole, and fashion designer Kenneth King.
A dream in the making
PatternCon has been a dream years in the making for founder Tricia Camacho, the founder of Creative Costume Academy and FITabulous Fit 5-Day Bootcamp. As a proud “pattern nerd,” Camacho has witnessed a vibrant community of makers, sewists, designers, and aspiring learners, all seeking to connect, create, and grow their skills but missing a dedicated place to do so.
Her dream was to host an inclusive, welcoming space for enthusiasts to come together to learn, collaborate, and connect with their peers. “I just felt this void in education on pattern making and especially fitting; everything that happens before you go to the machine,” Camacho said.
When she shared this dream with her close friend Caitlin LoCascio-King of Magenta Fusion Brandworks, the dream quickly took shape and was coaxed into reality over the next two years.
With over 20 years of professional experience making patterns and costumes for live theatrical productions like Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil, and Disney, Tricia had the necessary knowledge base and community connections to build this event. She recruited 16 fellow experts, including Jennifer Stern, Mela Hoyt-Heydon, and Nikki Griffin, to teach a wide range of classes that offered something for nearly every kind of garment maker at every skill level.
PatternCon attendees could take a variety of classes including a pattern drafting class. Here, students are using scale rulers.
Deciding to attend PatternCon
I first heard about PatternCon from my friend, YouTube creator Stephanie Canada. For years, she and I, along with a few others in our growing circle of vintage sewing pattern enthusiasts, had dreamed of an event where we could all share our knowledge in person. Canada had met Camacho at Sew Expo a year ago. As Camacho detailed her plans for a convention for all things pattern-related, her immediate response was, “I’m in. I don’t care when it is. I don’t care where it is. I’m in.” My response was identical. We both quickly applied to become teachers and secured two of the ten available vendor spots.
August 16 arrived, and PatternCon opened its doors to a long, excited line of attendees. They were a truly diverse crowd aged 12 to 81, representing nearly every genre of sewist. Many wore outfits they had designed themselves, several in clothes made from vintage patterns, and more than a few were in costume. While most attendees were women this year, a few classes focused on pattern making for all genders. A class offered in the final hours of the convention was aptly titled “Why am I Still Sewing at Midnight?” and discussed understanding procrastination for makers. LoCascio-King checked in on the class during her rounds and noted with delight, “They were all late. It was perfect.”
It felt like we had finally been brought together under one roof for the first time to celebrate our shared craft, exchange knowledge, and fuel each other’s inspiration. The joy and energy building in the ballroom as attendees scattered to tables and the vendor alley was contagious.
Reflecting on Year #1
Days later, still riding that wave of euphoria created by the sense of community that had blossomed in that space, I asked Canada how it had felt to be a part of it. She replied, “I’ve truly never been happier. I didn’t realize how much fun it is to be surrounded by people who share your very niche enthusiasm for a very weird thing until PatternCon. It was just the most magical thing, and all I wish for anyone who sews and enjoys patterns of any variety is to come and be a part of that community.”
Students also shared that PatternCon felt like it had arrived at the perfect time. News of IG Design Group America’s bankruptcy and the uncertain future that the Big Four pattern companies now faced was on many minds. Having watched the loss of JoAnn Fabrics impact the world of garment sewing so heavily, I overheard more than one attendee wonder aloud if they would be able to buy printed patterns for much longer.
Access to pattern drafting knowledge, a skill seldom taught outside of fashion design schools, is more important than ever before. As I walked by other classrooms after teaching my own pattern drafting class, I snuck a peek at the students through open doors. All were riveted, many diligently taking notes as they learned the skills that will potentially help them weather the storm that sometimes feels like it will decimate their craft.
When asked what the most valuable lesson she brought away after PatternCon, student Heather M. Ablondi said, “It was rediscovering that I don’t need to find a pattern for everything I want to make. I can make it myself.”
Ablondi learned flat patternmaking years ago but has still relied mostly on printed sewing patterns for her projects. PatternCon reminded many that they are capable of bringing their own unique designs to life without relying on companies that, over the last decade, as one attendee opined, had long seemed to offer the same dozen designs each year.
PatternCon teachers, including author Anna Depew.
Future Plans
PatternCon 2026 will next be held in Atlanta, and while Camacho and LoCascio-King have heard the call for the next event to be larger and longer, they emphasised that any future growth will be carefully balanced with maintaining the intimacy and connection so important this time around. “We saw what worked. We saw that the community, people, were happy,” Camacho said.
“We are not going to add people to PatternCon if we can’t give them as good an experience.” LoCascio-King assured me, emphasizing that growth is not the ultimate goal. Camacho’s dream of fostering a safe, welcoming space for garment makers to celebrate the joy of their craft will always be the priority.
Anna Depew
Contributor
Anna Depew is the owner of Mrs. Depew Vintage LLC, a pattern company dedicated to preserving the history of handmade. She is also the co-founder of the Vintage Sewing Pattern Nerd Facebook community. Follow her on Instagram at @mrsdepew.
