Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker is Also Know as
In different settings, Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker is titled as
- Cutter
- Designer
- Fabric Cutter
- Pattern Designer
- Pattern Maker
- Pattern Technician
- Production Pattern Maker
- Sewing Pattern Layout Technician
- Technical Designer
Education and Training of Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker is categorized in Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Required for Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Required for Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees Related to Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
- Bachelor in Apparel and Textile Manufacture
- Associate Degree Courses in Apparel and Textile Manufacture
- Masters Degree Courses in Apparel and Textile Manufacture
Training Required for Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related Ocuupations
Some Ocuupations related to Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker in different industries are
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
- Sewers, Hand
- Patternmakers, Wood
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
- Fashion Designers
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
- Sewing Machine Operators
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
- Commercial and Industrial Designers
- Etchers and Engravers
- Model Makers, Wood
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
- Tool and Die Makers
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers
What Do Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker do?
- Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments.
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments.
- Determine the best layout of pattern pieces to minimize waste of material, and mark fabric accordingly.
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.
- Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns.
- Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept.
- Position and cut out master or sample patterns, using scissors and knives, or print out copies of patterns, using computers.
- Discuss design specifications with designers, and convert their original models of garments into patterns of separate parts that can be laid out on a length of fabric.
- Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions.
- Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material.
- Examine sketches, sample articles, and design specifications to determine quantities, shapes, and sizes of pattern parts, and to determine the amount of material or fabric required to make a product.
- Trace outlines of paper onto cardboard patterns, and cut patterns into parts to make templates.
- Trace outlines of specified patterns onto material, and cut fabric, using scissors.
- Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting.
- Make adjustments to patterns after fittings.
- Create design specifications to provide instructions on garment sewing and assembly.
Qualities of Good Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
- Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
- Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
- Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
- Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
- Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
- Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
- Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
- Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
- Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
- Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
- Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
- Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
- Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
- Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
- Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
- Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
- Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
- Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
- Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
- Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
- Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
- Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Tools Used by Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
- Curve sticks
- Dress form mannequins
- Fabric shears
- Hip curve rulers
- Industrial sewing machines
- Ironing boards
- L squares
- Measuring tapes
- Paper scissors
- Pattern boards
- Pattern grading rulers
- Pattern paper cutters
- Pattern punches
- Pressing irons
- Round knives
- Scale rulers
- Screw punches
- Seam allowance gauges
- Seam rippers
- See-through rulers
- Serrated sewing pattern tracing wheels
- Sewing needles
- Sewing pattern notchers
- Steel straight pins
- Yard sticks
Technology Skills required for Fabric and Apparel Patternmaker
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Gerber Technology AccuMark
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- PatternMaker