Today I’m happy to announce that my newest e-course: Creating PDF Patterns + Pattern Grading is available in my shop.
Since then, I have worked hard to make the process of pattern grading as concise and easy to understand as possible. As a concept, I think pattern grading is pretty easy – you’re just adding or subtracting to/from the pattern to change one size into another. But in practice, where and how much to add/subtract and how exactly to redraw your new pattern can get complicated. That is what my course aims to simplify for you.
So, I’ve created a combination of video demonstrations and printable notes/charts that simplify and summarize what I’ve learned through years of trial and error, applied practice, and access to grading textbooks that sell for hundreds of dollars used since they are in demand and out of print (I’ve lucked out with the research libraries available to me). I’ve also added my own well-honed classroom teaching practice and my knowledge of Illustrator to bring grading on paper into the digital world of drafting. So whether you plan to grade on paper or in the computer, you’ll find this course useful.
You can read all about the course and enroll here.
Elisa Clark
I am so excited about this class! I just finished digitizing my first pattern using what I learned from your “Creating PDF Patterns” class and can’t wait to take the grading class!
Shannon
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this course, Melissa! It has taken so much of the guess work out of grading patterns. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a detailed, yet concise and easy to follow program on grading patterns (especially self-taught pattern designers like myself). Keep up the great work!
shannon
you are awesome. seriously.
louise
Hi there! Is there a date for this class? Or is it just a do it on your own time? And I don’t have illustrator, but do you think it would work in Photoshop elements or autocad? I really want to take it, but just curious about these questions! Thanks!
Melissa Mora
It’s open ended; you do it on your own time and once enrolled you have the option to go back and watch videos.
The tools in photoshop and/or autocad would be different than Illustrator, so you would have to figure those out. But the concepts, math and printable charts work the same no matter which software you’re using, or even if you’re drawing by hand, so you would still learn how to grade. The section on how to write an action to speed up digital grading wouldn’t apply at all with those programs as it’s Illustrator specific, but all the other lesson material could be applied to grading in another program. Other programs just aren’t specifically addressed.
pakama ngqaqu
i started mi job as a trainee assistant designer in a lothing company i enjoy grading patterns m interested n loving mi job bt with no basics of grading i did dress n pattern making course ages so i need to polish mi self
Liz
Hi – Your pattern grading class is interesting, but I do have one question. I understand that if taking, say a size 12, up, you really can only go so far. The rules change after about a size 16. I may not have the sizes right here. But, the question is, do you cover how to take a “regular missesr” sized pattern into a “womens” sized pattern, i.e. like 18, 20, 22, 24… This is my issue at the moment. Hopefully, some day I will want to take it in the other direction! 🙂 (Working on that!)
Melissa Mora
Well, it’s tricky and not always possible as these should really be different drafts. See this post for more information: http://mellysews.com/2014/09/make-sewing-pattern-bigger-smaller.html