c.hadleydikeDigital apparel Patterning in Illustrator is a fun way to create your own patterns!!! I love to use Illustrator to create patterns!!! Now that I have my sloper pattern saved I can easily flat pattern to any new design I want!!!
Gather your Materials
Adobe Illustrator –
It is a great way to begin your learning in digital apparel patterning!!!!
This book is the book I use most commonly for Patterning!!! I highly recommend it!!!!
Half Scale Pattern to begin manipulating and flat patterning!!! Available through my Mini-course Manipulate a Half Scale Pattern in Illustrator found here!!!!
You will eventually want your own measurements so that you can create your own sloper pattern in adobe illustrator!!! then start flat patterning them into different designs!!!!
Other Materials I use for Patterning
I like this lightweight patterning paper when I am hand drafting because when I am truing up my patterns I can easily see through it to double-check my lines.
These bendable rules are great for helping measure curved lines.
Needed to help create perfect curved lines
Other Tools I use
- I really like to use wax tracing paper to transfer my patterns to my fabric. Buy this wax tracing paper from Richard the Thread.
- So Many Books to Choose from. I love books and always am gathering more for different references!!!
- Pencils, erasers, and sharpeners. These are always needed to Pattern!!!
Digital Apparel Patterning
There are so many different programs that you can digitally apparel pattern in, Adobe Illustrator is only one of them. I find many have bought into the creative cloud Adobe offers and want to learn more ways of using the program to get their money’s worth. Some of the other programs are WildGinger, Opititex, Gerber, TukaTech, AccuMark, Gemini Pattern Designer, and many more. These specifically built programs have many features that Adobe does not have. Such as adding in pleats or fullness with a few clicks of a button. Faster grading tools. Some even have 3-d modeling and draping. However, all these extra features come with an upgraded sales ticket. Well worth the price but priced out of many home sewer budgets.
Digital apparel patterning is becoming more common and a skill many employers are looking for. Having a set of slopers that range in size makes starting a pattern as fast as the copy and paste buttons!!! Now you can pattern from the comfort of anywhere in the world then finish a pattern and email it to anyone anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. Digital apparel Patterning in Illustrator is quickly moving into the future!!!
Check out some of the garments I have patterned in Adobe. Such as this Lace Closed Knit Shirt or my fun Dinosaur shirt.
Other Books I like to reference
Sign up for your own trial of Adobe and start patterning clothing for yourself!!!
Once you have signed up for Adobe, Check out my free mini-course on how to set up an Adobe artboard for apparel patterning. Find Set up Adobe Illustrator for Apparel Patterning mini course here. Then you can begin your own patterning for yourself!!!
Grab my Key commands and charts I use to create this pattern in Adobe Illustrator!!!
