Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Production
Pattern work starts with charts, drafting tools, or a computer: a master pattern is built for each size in a range, with stretch of the fabric figured into the measurements. Outlines are drawn from scratch or adapted from an existing style; details mark where pieces join and where pleats, pockets, and buttonholes go. Computers also take specifications for design and cutting. After a sample garment is made and fitted, the pattern is adjusted, then marked with size, section, style, and sewing notes. The job suits people who like precise measuring and drawing, practical math, and revising a pattern until the sample fits as intended.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$62'750
Median Wage Market Position
$62'750
What you might do
- Draft a master pattern for each garment size
- Enter specs into a computer to shape patterns
- Mark join lines, pockets, pleats, and buttonholes
- Figure dimensions while allowing for fabric stretch
- Make a sample garment and check the fit
- Change the pattern after a sample fitting
Skills that matter
- Drafting master patterns for each size
- Computing dimensions that allow for stretch
- Marking pleats, pockets, and buttonholes
- Adjusting patterns after sample fittings
- Entering specifications into a computer
- Discussing fit after sample garments
AI & the future of this role
Digital patterning tools can already draft, grade, and nest layouts from specs, so AI-assisted design may absorb a large share of precise marking and cutting prep. Fit judgment and complex custom work still count, yet employment prospects look relatively weak.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details