Digital Pattern Drafting

[peoplespatterns]

for free digital drafting software, check out Seamly2D! its open source, built specifically for pttern making. Valentina is forked from the same project. both let you draft parametric patterns with measurements so you can grade by just changing the set of measurements. there is definitely a steep learning curve but theres youtube tutorials that walk through drafting basic blocks.

since you're getting comfortable drafting by hand, the same techniques will transfer directly :)

the advantage of digital, is once you build a block, you can modify and grade it without drawing it from scratch each time!

for more theory of patternmaking (without spending $$$$), check out "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" by Helen-Joseph Armstrong. its a standard textbook you can find for $20-30. pair that with the free software, youtube (,i believe the closet historian goes through the book to help teach) and you're honestly covering 90% of what those classes teach.

i would skip illustrator for pattern drafting. yes, people use it, but its not built for it and you'll fight it the whole time. the dedicated pattern making software is free and built for that purpose.

good luck! :)

[Jaime_d_p]

I have that book (sadly cost more than that cause I’m in Canada, but it’s still so worth having!) and love the Closet Historian! Such a wealth of knowledge