How I grade sewing patterns using Adobe Illustrator

[@sophiab7368]

Omg, thank you for this! I have both of these books but had been doing my grading physically rather than sitting down and trying to figure out how to use illustrator. I've seen other methods of grading in illustrator but this by far seems the most accurate.

[@PatternScout]

So glad it is helpful! This has been the best way for me to wrap my brain around it! :)

[@daniellefike]

Thanks for sharing, this was so interesting! I definitely have a greater appreciation for how much work goes into a sewing pattern now, and this is just one step in the process! Wow.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you Danielle! :)

[@anymoose6685]

Ooh. I just figured out the blend tool. Grading just got a ton easier on illustrator!

[@tommyx6553]

It is much easier to move the Joint points than moving line by line where it breaks up as you grade it when you use Adobe Illustrator. In Adobe Illustrator grading you can always use the Blend tool. All you need is to create the smallest size and the largest and then use blend tool which automatically gives you the Digital drawings of the other sizes in a second. AI : Before hitting the blend too you will need to change it to specified steps and the number of copies you want according to the sizes. Hope it helps.

[@PatternScout]

I will try those, thank you for the tips! :)

[@evergreenfaerieknots]

Yes! I second this, I use the blend tool for my patterns and it certainly saves ALOT of time!

[@anymoose6685]

Ooh! Please put out a tutorial on using the blend for grading!

[@tinalisapattern]

I do something similar using Inkscape. This method she shows seams quite cumbersome

[@nusaibahibraheem8183]

I love that you shared this because there aren't that many people sharing grading techniques. But I have to say there are much better ways of doing it especially in illustrator, for one, you dont have to cut your pattern and re-blend later, you could just move points instead. THISISKACHI here on youtube has a very easy way of grading with out cutting up the pattern pieces. It's also faster. Her method is kind of the way you moved your dart points.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you for the recommendation, I will check that out and give it a try!

[@faithmathingsdal79]

Even though I have no interest in designing my own patterns to distribute etc, this was still fascinating to see. It seems very complicated, but you make it look easy. You must have a more technical/mathematical brain than me, that's for sure! I'm looking forward to this one being released, if it's still resembling your tester! :)

[@PatternScout]

Thanks for watching the process! It's one of those things that gets more intuitive with practice (definitely used to feel way more difficult when I first started doing it). I'm excited for this pattern, too! Been on my todo list for a while and finally starting to come together! :)

[@اسماء-د1ر]

very informative! waw that's a lot of work u guys doin ! actually as a zero experience beginner sewer lol i thought that grading takes 2 sec on illustrator hihi😁 thank's a lot for sharing

[@PatternScout]

Haha, thanks for watching! :)

[@lorieburtt592]

I’m still catching up on all of your previous videos. I wish I could give this ten thumbs up! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@PatternScout]

Thank you!! :)

[@solansolanster]

I suggest "Gerber Accumark" software to draft this kind of patterns.

[@1Beadbug]

Thanks for sharing your process, I’ve always wondered how this was done and I can see where this knowledge could come in handy.

[@PatternScout]

You bet! Thanks for watching! :)

[@sewingsydney]

Important tip - If anyone is having problems copy & pasting to other layers, make sure you Uncheck the 'PASTE REMEMBERS LAYERS' in the Layer Panel Menu - especially if you're using more recent versions of Adobe 💗

[@sarahdevries731]

Hi there! Love your video, you inspired me to purchase the Jack Handford pattern making book. At 3:51 you mention you "divided up the pattern based on the book" but I'm struggling to find where in the book it tells you to to create these lines (that become the different numbered sections). Do you have any advice here? Thanks!

[@hoetaku6959]

I'm having the same problem... did you ever figure it out?

[@sarahdevries731]

No, unfortunately :/@@hoetaku6959

[@sandrafrench6125]

Very interesting, thanks for the look into your process!

[@PatternScout]

Thanks so much for watching! :)

[@Escape10mom]

This was so interesting to watch!

[@PatternScout]

So glad you liked seeing it! Thanks!

[@cathleenvance4441]

I have always wanted to learn how to design and draft my own patterns which is why I loved this video. I was also wondering if you are planning to do a sew along for the "Nellie" pants. I bought your pattern but I haven't started making them yet since I am still all jammed up making a gazillion Byrdie Button Ups...lol... and by the way, I can see why you wear yours all the time...good Lord, it is all I am wearing since I made it...(in every color I love) Can't wait for the peasant blouse to come out. Also loved all your capsule wardrobe thoughts as well, especially the jean jacket...thank so much for all that you do. I am loving it.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much Cathleen, that makes my day to know you are enjoying what I am putting out into the sewing world! :) Doing a sewalong for the Nellie Joggers is for sure on my todo list (just not sure when it will happen)--there's a written sewalong on the Pattern Scout blog, but I still need to get a video done for it! So glad you have been enjoying the Byrdie! Thanks for watching and following along!

[@sewittoday1]

wow this video is amazing. I have one pattern I am working on that is available on printed fabric as a cut and sew on Spoonflower, but it would be great to know how to create it with more sizes in Adobe Illustrator. Thank you

[@mimistewart9315]

This is so interesting to see it done this way. I am trying to do this with a circle skirt but I am not able to achieve the skirt length correctly as the flare is different. Any suggestions. I do have a photo I could show.

[@SazzuHope]

Thank you so so much for this. I would love more information on creating patterns.

[@PatternScout]

You're so welcome! I will try to do more on that in the future!

[@katerin_factory]

Make more videos please about making patterns in the program

[@modisteoca]

Please can you make a video on how to make sewing instructions using Adobe InDesign?

[@halachahine8198]

Thank you so much for this! I just wanna know, on what basis did you divide the patterns at first?

[@artvisionmeditation5199]

how to dra basic blouse in Illustartor ?

[@santiagosuarez3132]

I appreciate the teaching, thanks a lot

[@PatternScout]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@flanaganicole]

So interesting to see. Thanks for shearing!

[@PatternScout]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@solarwinds-]

Will any CAD/Drawing software work for drafting apparel patterns? I have AutoCAD that I used back before I retired form engineering. It's a drawing tool as well. I wonder if that will work?

[@PatternScout]

Definitely!

[@sprngwaters]

Hi there, you mentioned hiring someone to grade for you when you first got started. Do you mind sharing the info of the person you hired? Im looking for someone to grade a pattern for me.

[@Aryamoony]

Thank you so much 😊✨

[@felipethomazetti]

hi! what is the size of the file you created for this patter or for any patter?

[@PatternScout]

It varies a lot from project to project. The grade file for this pattern was about 1.3 MB and the final pattern file was about 4 MB.

[@solarwinds-]

This is so interesting.

[@anjaliamarasekara4719]

Please send me grading chart

[@PhotoSlash]

Hi there I loved this video! i was interested in buying the professional pattern grading book, does it cover also more generic garments like hoodies? does it mention also how to grade with oversized garments? i'm doing some urban clothing, nothing fancy, and i dont wanna risk to buy it and not finding what i need :) Also from what i've seen this method you use is so time consuming :O how do you manage to do it with a whole collection? there must be some software capable of grading automatically from a given pattern..

[@PatternScout]

Hello! The book is actually really basic, with only a few very basic pattern examples. But the grading principles are easy to apply to different styles once you learn the technique (an oversized bodice block will be graded similarly to a fitted bodice block, for ex, same grading steps apply). There are also several software options for pattern grading. I tried to practice and learn a couple of them, but illustrator is a program I already had a ton of experience with so it was more natural for me to draft with that program. I think if you don't already know Illustrator it is actually better to invest the time in learning a grading software. Hope that helps!

[@whitneylove1471]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

[@PatternScout]

Thanks!

[@SUCCESSFULKING1]

888 great info 🎉

[@jackkyle5457]

Can a pattern /sloper be graded down to 1/3 1/6 maniquine?

[@PatternScout]

I think so, although I've never tried it

[@jasminecs9708]

You would scale it instead of grade it to whatever percentage of the original pattern you prefer.

[@TerrenceLavigosMokebe]

Thank you

[@sylviagiella1389]

You said you are a size 12. is that a RTW size 12?

[@PatternScout]

That's my size in most sewing patterns...in RTW I'm anywhere from a size 8 to a size 12

[@MsMarysimple]

You cannot Grade with Illustrator! - You need to Grade on the "Sewing Line", not the Cut Line and it is way too difficult on Illustrator!!