1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Pattern cutter

Pattern cutter

Pattern cutters create pattern templates based on drawings from a fashion designer to make clothes.

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 38 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends occasionally

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

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.

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.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a pattern cutter right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Design and Technology: Fashion and Textiles GCE

  • Provider: William Farr CofE Comprehensive School
  • Start date: 02 September 2020
  • Location: LINCOLN

GCE A Level in Design and Technology (Design Engineering / Fashion and Textiles / Product Design)

  • Provider: The Priory Academy LSST
  • Start date: 01 September 2020
  • Location: Lincoln
Find courses near you

JobsIn the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Get help using this service

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

8am to 10pm, 7 days a week

More ways to contact us

Is this page useful?

Yes No