Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
2,950 people do this job in the US. $62,750 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 52%
- 6%
- 42%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 24%. Today's estimate: 32%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 16 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 17% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.6 work days | Stays with people | |
| Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 16% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 27%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments.Done daily by most who do it. | 9% | 5.8 h2.5 h to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 9% | 2.1 h50 min to 5.8 h | 59%Half by now | |
| Make adjustments to patterns after fittings.Done daily by most who do it. | 8% | 1.7 h38 min to 5 h | 66%Half by now | |
| Determine the best layout of pattern pieces to minimize waste of material, and mark fabric accordingly.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 h38 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Examine sketches, sample articles, and design specifications to determine quantities, shapes, and sizes of pattern parts, and to determine the amount of material or fabric required to make a product.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | 80%Half by now | |
| 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.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Position and cut out master or sample patterns, using scissors and knives, or print out copies of patterns, using computers.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 5% | 50 min17 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Create design specifications to provide instructions on garment sewing and assembly.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 1.7 h50 min to 3.3 h | 90%Half by now | |
| Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min17 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 3% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | 95%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).