Style Pattern Making Tutorials
Once you’ve mastered digital pattern making in Adobe illustrator, you can get on with the really fun stuff – creating hundreds of unique styles from your basic blocks! We define a style as the body or silhouette of your basic block. This could be the body of a dress, shirt, trousers, coat, etc. Once you have created the style, you can then add different design elements such as sleeves, necklines, plackets, facings or pockets to complete your design. To get started, simply select the style from our range (below), create the necessary basic blocks using the Lab and then follow the tutorial in Adobe Illustrator CC.
If there is a specific style or design element that you’d like us to add, follow us on Instagram and leave your suggestion as a comment on one of our existing posts. We’ll review your request and get started. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our FREE digital pattern making tutorials!
Design Elements
Once you have transformed your basic blocks and slopers into a specific style, why not add some design elements such as sleeves, necklines, plackets, facings or pockets to complete your design. To get started, simply select the design element (below) and follow the tutorial in Adobe Illustrator CC.
Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator as a digital pattern making platform
Learn the step-by-step basics of digital pattern making in Adobe Illustrator in our short crash course. It’s your first step to producing digital sewing patterns like a pro.
Adding seam
Follow this simple and handy tutorial to learn how to add seam allowance to your finished pattern in Adobe Illustrator.
Multi-page PDF patterns
Transform your finished pattern into multi-page PDF patterns in a range of paper sizes. Then
Hi! I was thrilled at how well my custom block fit me the first time. However I know I need to adjust the sleeve area and I heard you have videos that show what measurement changes result in fit change. Can you point to where I find those?
I am trying to decide on lifting armscye v. narrowing shoulders v. increasing bicep. Thanks.
Hi Nora, thanks for your comment. Ww do have a troubleshooting guide that does mention which measurements affect the various parts of the block. It’s not a video but it does give you the info that you need. You can find it here: http://patternlab.london/home/basic-torso-block-women/
The measurements you need to reduce are as follows:
Arscydepth, Shoulders and Top arm. You can make these changes in the My library section of the site. When you adjust your measurements the Lab will automatically redraft the block in seconds for you to review. I hope this helps. Enjoy and good luck.
Hi! I didn’t see any design element tutorials for adding different types of pleats. Did I overlook them?
Hi there.
Unfortunately, we currently don’t have any tutorials on adding pleats, but we will add it to the list of upcoming tutorials.
Hi Ralph I love your website! I am interested in a jacket block for women. Any chance you’ll have a tutorial or the option to print one out using our profile measurements?
Thanks from Texas!
Jaime
Hello Ralph! hope you are well, I would like to ask you if you at some moment could talk or teach about how to grade your patterns/blocks in Illustrator. I have learned about grading but I don’t know if I could apply the same principles to grade the pattern or it’s different because of Illustrator. I hope don’t bother you with my question and thanks for your time, your job in this platform is phenomenal and I congratulate you for that.
I would like to know if you offer the course for menswear
Hi Clive, thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately, at this time we only offer Womenswear patterns. However, once we have completed our womenswear range we will be moving on to Menswear basic blocks and slopers.
Hello, Ralph, When you planning to move to Menswear Patterns course? I can’t wait for it.
Hi Hector, we are currently still working on our women’s wear blocks and won’t be releasing menswear for quite some time. I’,m very sorry for the inconvenience. Please sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with all of our latest block releases and tutorials.
Thanks
Ralph
I am interested pattern making womenswear