Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
Key knowledge
- Design
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
What the work involves
- Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments.
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments.
- Determine the best layout of pattern pieces to minimize waste of material, and mark fabric accordingly.
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.
- Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns.
- Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept.
- Position and cut out master or sample patterns, using scissors and knives, or print out copies of patterns, using computers.
- Discuss design specifications with designers, and convert their original models of garments into patterns of separate parts that can be laid out on a length of fabric.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Artistic, Conventional.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (40.7% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (29.2%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (31.3%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 3: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | High | Higher on contact with others than 60% of occupations compared | 57% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 81% of occupations compared | 45% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all” |
| Teamwork | High | Higher on teamwork than 74% of occupations compared | 75% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 64% of occupations compared | 52% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | High | Higher on time pressure than 67% of occupations compared | 40% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Moderate | Higher on conflict situations than 53% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 78% of occupations compared | 32% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Consequence of error | High | Higher on consequence of error than 64% of occupations compared | 30% of surveyed respondents chose “Very serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: high
- Conflict situations: moderate
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 2.42%
- Contact with others about half the time: 0%
- Contact with others most of the time: 40.53%
- Constant contact with others: 57.05%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 45.3%
- Fairly important: 9.46%
- Important: 9.46%
- Very important: 17.56%
- Extremely important: 18.21%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0%
- Important: 22.4%
- Very important: 2.42%
- Extremely important: 75.18%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 4.63%
- Very little freedom: 0%
- Limited freedom: 11.23%
- Some freedom: 32.44%
- A lot of freedom: 51.7%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 2.48%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 22.95%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 39.66%
- Every day: 34.91%
n = 19, Incumbent 07/2016
Conflict situations
- Never: 11.88%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 22.4%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 35.84%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 25.25%
- Every day: 4.63%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 31.58%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 24.88%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 30.09%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 4.63%
- Every day: 8.81%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 13.65%
- Fairly serious: 27.02%
- Serious: 2.42%
- Very serious: 30.09%
- Extremely serious: 26.81%
n = 20, Incumbent 07/2016
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O*NET-SOC 51-6092.00 · SOC 51-6092 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8