Pattern cutter
Pattern cutters create pattern templates based on drawings from a fashion designer to make clothes.
Salary range: £15,000 to £40,000
How to become a pattern cutter
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist and short courses
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in fashion or garment technology.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You could do a college course, for example:
- Level 2 Certificate in Pattern Cutting
- Level 2 Diploma in Fashion
- Level 3 Diploma Garment Technology
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can do a fashion and textiles pattern cutter advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
Work
You could start as a pattern cutting assistant or sample machinist with a clothing manufacturer or fashion design company and work your way up.
Other routes
You can do short courses in pattern cutting through university fashion departments, colleges and adult education centres.
More information
Career tips
To get onto courses and find jobs, you’ll need a portfolio of your work to show off your skills and creative ideas.
Professional and industry bodies
You may find it useful to join The Textile Institute for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You can get more information on working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work on your own
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with your hands
- knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- draping pieces of material over a dummy, shaping and pinning them around the ‘body’ until they fit correctly, then cutting out a pattern based on the pieces
- altering and shaping flat, standard pattern ‘blocks’ into a style
- modifying non-standard pattern ‘bases’ taken from the company’s pattern library
- working with machinists to make up samples
- using computer-aided design programs to make up some patterns
- using traditional hand-drawing methods
- working closely with the in-house sample machinist or manufacturer to make up an example garment
- working with designers and garment technologists to produce the final pattern
Working environment
You could work in a workshop, in a factory or in a creative studio.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could progress to head pattern cutter or grader or, with further training, fashion designer or buyer.
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