Certificate Programme

Certified Pattern Making Programme

Duration: 2 Years | 4 Semesters | 16 Months

Pattern cutting and grading from first principles — block construction, model development on the block, and graded production patterns across skirts, trousers, bodices, dresses, shirts, jackets, jersey, underwear, children’s wear and outerwear.

Measuring a tailor mannequin with tape
Block construction and grading underpin every garment.

Curriculum

Sixteen monthly units across four semesters

The programme runs four months of instruction in each of its four semesters. Each month takes one block or garment group from first construction through model development to a graded production pattern.

  1. Semester 1: Skirts
  2. Semester 2: Trousers and the bodice block
  3. Semester 3: Bodice development, dresses and shirts
  4. Semester 4: Jackets, jersey, children’s wear and outerwear
Detailed programme (semester breakdown)

Semester 1 — Skirts

  • Month 1: Basic skirt block, production pattern and grading
  • Month 2: Skirt model development on the basic block (1)
  • Month 3: Skirt model development on the basic block (2)
  • Month 4: Specially patterned skirt models

Semester 2 — Trousers and the bodice block

  • Month 1: Basic women’s trouser block and grading
  • Month 2: Trouser model development on the basic block (1)
  • Month 3: Trouser model development on the basic block (2)
  • Month 4: Basic body block (bodice), dart work and grading

Semester 3 — Bodice development, dresses and shirts

  • Month 1: Close-fitting bodice block model development
  • Month 2: Loose-fitting bodice block model development
  • Month 3: Basic dress patterns, shirt patterns and grading
  • Month 4: Sleeve, collar and pocket patterns, and grading

Semester 4 — Jackets, jersey, children’s wear and outerwear

  • Month 1: Basic jacket pattern and grading
  • Month 2: Jersey patterns, underwear patterns and grading
  • Month 3: Children’s patterns
  • Month 4: Outerwear patterns and grading

How this relates to Fashion Design

Pattern making is taught as its own certificate programme. The Fashion Design Programme covers design, illustration, textiles, styles and collection work; this programme covers the cutting, drafting and grading of the patterns themselves. The two may be taken separately or together.