ONLINE COURSE

Digital Pattern Making with Adobe Illustrator (Online)


Our Digital Pattern Making with Adobe Illustrator course is a specialist 9-week online programme for sewing creatives, fashion designers, dressmakers, sewing business owners, fashion students and creative entrepreneurs who want to move beyond traditional pattern making methods and develop digital pattern drafting skills for today’s fashion industry.

Fashion is constantly evolving, and digital skills are becoming increasingly important for designers, makers and pattern cutters. This course has been created to help students understand how Adobe Illustrator can be used as a practical tool for drafting, developing, adapting and preparing sewing patterns digitally.

This is not a course based on pre-made blocks or ready-made templates. Students will learn how to draft patterns digitally from lines, points, measurements and construction methods, building their own digital pattern work directly inside Adobe Illustrator.

The course has been developed in response to a real need for bespoke, practical and specialist digital pattern making training. It is designed for people who already understand sewing and garment construction, but want to learn how to create and develop patterns digitally with tailored tutor support.

Across the course, students will be guided step by step through the process of setting up Adobe Illustrator for pattern drafting, understanding digital pattern tools, creating accurate pattern lines, drafting bespoke patterns with professional pattern markings and preparing pattern files for printing or further development.

This course is designed for students who want tailored support, practical feedback and a clear understanding of how digital pattern making works from the ground up.

A Unique and Rare Specialist Course
This is a unique specialist online programme, available in the UK that teaches students how to draft bespoke digital sewing patterns from scratch using individual measurements in Adobe Illustrator, with live tailored tutor support.

No pre-made blocks.
No generic templates.
Students learn how to build digital patterns from the very beginning custom for their own measurements.
Format

Online
Course

Dates

3rd Aug -
20th Sept 2026

Live classes on Sundays 
5pm -7pm

Format

A mix of Live sessions, pre-recorded videos and other learning materials

Duration

9 weeks

Price

£990

Digitize your process

We are now living and working in a digital age. Pattern making no longer has to be limited to paper, large workspaces and traditional drafting methods.

Digital pattern making allows creatives to draft, adapt, store, edit, resize, export and prepare patterns directly from their computer. It can reduce paper use, save workspace, support more sustainable working practices and create new opportunities for those who want to develop digital sewing patterns, pattern files or their own pattern-based business.

From a digital pattern file, students may choose to print their patterns, prepare PDF files, or even move towards direct digital workflows for cutting and production.

This course is designed to help students build pattern making skills that are fit for a constantly evolving creative and fashion industry.

Important Suitability Note

This course is not a beginner sewing course.

Students must already understand sewing and garment construction. You do not need to have previous experience in digital pattern making, and you do not need to be advanced in Adobe Illustrator before joining, but you should already be able to sew and understand how garments or sewn products are constructed.

This course focuses on pattern drafting and digital pattern development, not teaching students how to sew.

You should be comfortable with basic sewing language, garment pieces, seams, construction order and how patterns are used to create sewn outcomes.

Included in your learning.

  • Adobe Illustrator guidance for pattern making
  • digital drafting exercises
  • simple pattern projects
  • skirt block and adaptations
  • T-shirt and sweatshirt pattern development
  • simple trouser block and adaptations
  • professional pattern markings and notation
  • support preparing files for export or print
  • tailored tutor support and feedback
  • guidance on developing patterns for personal use, portfolio work or a future pattern business

Active Learning

Students will be expected to practise between sessions to get the most from the course, and meet up with learning expectations.

What you need

  • A laptop or desktop computere between sessions
  • Basic confidence using a computer
  • Sewing and garment construction knowledge
  • Willingness to practise between sessions
  • Sewing tools and sample fabrics for individual practise
WEEKS 1-4: Foundations of digital pattern making

Week 1: Introduction to Adobe Illustrator for Digital Pattern Making

Week 2: Simple Pattern Drafting and First Simple Digital Pattern Project

Week 3: Digital Skirt Block

Week 4: Skirt Adaptations, Variations and Pattern Development

Week 5: Independent Practice, Revision and Catch-Up

Practise skills covered in Weeks 1–4, refine digital skirt block and adaptations, complete unfinished tasks.

This self-study week gives time to review and reflect learning to strengthen confidence before moving into top and trouser pattern development.

WEEKS 6-9: Garment Pattern Development and Final Files

Week 6: T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Pattern Drafting

Week 7: T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Development

Week 8: Simple Trouser Block and Adaptations

Week 9: Final Pattern Files, Exporting and Next Steps

Meet the Tutor - Tolumi Abiola

Tolumi Abiola is a creative educator, fashion practitioner and the Creative Head of Kent School of Fashion. With over 15 years of experience in sewing, garment construction and creative education, her teaching combines technical skill development with a supportive, industry-informed approach.

Tolumi has taught learners across a wide range of ages and experience levels, from complete beginners to advanced students preparing portfolios for further study and creative careers. Her teaching focuses on helping learners build confidence in fashion, design and construction techniques while developing their own creative voice and craftsmanship.

Alongside leading community-based fashion education programmes, Tolumi also lectures in higher education and is particularly passionate about inclusive creative teaching practice. Her work bridges professional fashion training and accessible community learning, creating an environment where learners feel supported, challenged and inspired.

In this course, Tolumi will guide students step by step through using Adobe Illustrator as a practical digital pattern making tool. Students will learn how to draft, develop, adapt and prepare patterns digitally, while receiving tailored support and feedback throughout the programme.

Her teaching approach is clear, practical and encouraging, helping students build confidence not only in using Adobe Illustrator, but also in understanding how digital pattern making can support their own creative practice, sewing business, portfolio or future pattern line.

Connect with us

Who we are

Our mission is to provide the highest CreativeArts learning, in an enabling and supportive environment to positively impact our learners. 

Featured links

Get in touch

  • 11 Miners Way,
    Canterbury 
    CT3 3AW
    United Kingdom 
  • hello@kentschooloffashion.com 
  • 01304 505086
    07770 974940
Copyright ©2026 Kent School of Fashion
Created with