Frequently Asked Questions
Read below to get your answers or add your question in the Contact Us form below
Getting started
It's the same process as working with a pattern maker, just online and on your schedule. In Pattern Flow you pick your garment type, then answer the same fit questions you'd answer face to face (fit, neckline, sleeve length, hem shape, hem length and more). You answer them visually by choosing sketches, so you can see your design come together and approve your brief before you buy. From there we make your pattern, and you can order a sample, book an online fitting, and finish with a graded pattern and tech pack.
Before you start, watch the videos in our How It Works section and try a free trial pattern to test the files in your own system. Then:
- Design your style in Pattern Flow. The price shows as you build.
- Test it. Order a single-size pattern and sample it in your own fabric, or have us make your sample in our in-house toile fabrics.
- Have your fitting. It's online, and we update your pattern live while we talk.
- Order your graded pattern and tech pack, ready to take to any manufacturer, local or overseas.
Happy with your sample straight away? Skip the fitting and order your graded pattern and tech pack directly from the website.
Yes. Book a Design Meeting ($75 per style) and Julia will step you through your design. It covers the same questions as Pattern Flow, so either way you end up in the same place.
[Link: https://links.patternroom.com/widget/groups/online-fittings]
We cover a wide range of sportswear, school wear, corporate, promotional and fashion styles, and we're adding new ones all the time, so yours might be in the pipeline and close to launching. The best thing to do is photograph your garment using Fit Finder. We'll let you know whether it's available, close to launch, or whether we can add the elements you need.
Fit Finder works best with a physical garment. Only have a sketch or a photo? Send it through Fit Finder anyway. We'll find the closest match we can, but it will be more of a guide than an exact recipe.
Fit Finder | Find the Right Pattern From a Garment You Own – Pattern Room
Fit and your own specs
We've been making patterns for over 30 years and running a full-service pattern making business for the fashion industry since 2009. We've worked on thousands of designs with designers and businesses, just like you.
Specs alone don't make a garment fit. They only show the shape you're looking for. It's the pattern maker who turns those measurements into a garment that fits. Every pattern starts from our trusted blocks, and a good block has balance built in: the armhole height and shape, and how the sleeve sits on the body. That balance carries through when we change widths and lengths for your design.
Start with a single size in your own fabric, then book a fitting with Julia to work through any changes before you order the full graded set. Every element in Pattern Flow has been refined over 30 years of industry pattern making.
No. The measurements give you an idea of the fit, the same as you'd discuss with a pattern maker. Once your sample is made and fitted, it can be tweaked and changed.
Both options give you a professionally drafted pattern. The difference is where the fit comes from.
Our fit-tested blocks are base patterns we've already developed, sampled and refined. When your design starts from one of our blocks, the fit has already been tested, so you can move forward with confidence.
Your own spec is the right choice when you need to match an existing garment, a fit you've already developed, or a manufacturer's requirements. We draft your pattern precisely to the measurements you provide. Because the fit then comes from your spec rather than our blocks, the result will only be as accurate as the measurements you supply. That's why we recommend making a sample before going into production. Drafting to your own spec costs 50% more than our standard price.
Not sure which to choose?
- Choose our blocks if you're starting fresh, want proven fit, or don't yet have a fit standard of your own.
- Choose your spec if you already have an established fit you need to match.
Still unsure? Get in touch and we'll help you work out the best starting point for your design.
No. Every fabric shrinks differently, so shrinkage can't be built into a standard pattern. Our blog explains how to manage it.
https://patternroom.com/blogs/news/shrinkage-in-custom-sportswear
No. Move across only the styles that need a better fit, one at a time, at a pace that suits you. Use the Pattern Room Quick Guide to find the closest match to a style you already make. Over time, consistent fit across your range means fewer patterns, fewer fixes and stronger collections.
https://try.patternroom.com/fit-finder-app
No. Every pattern is made by our pattern makers from trusted blocks we've developed and tested over decades. Pattern Flow is simply the way you brief us.
Samples, fittings and changes
Yes. We can make your first sample in our in-house toile fabrics so you can check fit, proportion and design before you go to a manufacturer. The sample has a base price plus add-ons for extra features, and you'll see the total as you build. Have your own workroom? Order a single-size pattern and sample it yourself.
Allow 2 weeks from ordering, plus freight. Freight depends on your location and carrier.
Not a problem at all. Start with a single size and test it in your fabric, checking for shrinkage. If you'd like to change anything, book a fitting. We'll talk it through on the call and make the changes to your pattern, and they'll carry through to your graded pattern and tech pack.
And you might love the pattern the first time. As your confidence in Pattern Room builds, you may find you don't need changes at all.
All fittings are online, so you can join from anywhere in the world. We update your pattern live during the fitting, then update your spec afterwards. If you need another sample, we resend the base pattern. If the changes are minor, we go straight to grading and your tech pack. Fittings are $75.
[Link: How fittings work: https://patternroom.com/pages/fittings]
[Link: Book a fitting: https://links.patternroom.com/widget/groups/online-fittings]
Yes, because they're used at different stages of development. The single-size pattern lets you make a sample first, test the fit, check the style and confirm the garment works for your fabric and customer before you invest in a full graded set. You can also book a fitting after making your sample, so we can review the fit with you and make any adjustments before the pattern is graded.
This means you don't pay for grading until the base pattern has been tested and approved. Once you're happy with the fit and style, order your graded set through the website. Pricing is on each product page.
Once you know our fit and understand the key measurements, you can order a graded set straight away, as many of our experienced clients do.
No. We focus on the pattern, sample, fitting, graded pattern and tech pack. Your graded pattern and tech pack are ready to take to any manufacturer, who can then give you an accurate quote for production.
We are building a Fabric Finder Toolkit- Join the waitlist here to be the first to sign up
https://links.sampleroom.com.au/widget/form/RydLJLLbCq9Liv14s4In
Pricing and turnaround
It depends on how many styles you launch, how many rounds of sampling you need, and your production quantities. Development comes first: your pattern, sample, fittings, graded pattern and tech pack.
All Pattern Room prices are on the website, so you can build your style in Pattern Flow and see your costs straight away. Patterns start from $80. We don't give written quotes, because we can't predict how many sampling rounds you'll need or which features you'll choose. Our pricing is fully transparent, and it's on par with or lower than pattern makers worldwide.
For a step-by-step breakdown, read our blog "How much does it cost to start a clothing line?"
[Link: https://patternroom.com/blogs/news/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-clothing-line]
For budgeting your whole range and production, join our Fashion Label Blueprint course.
[Link: https://sampleroom.com.au/fashion_label_blueprint]
As we travel around the world, we hear the same thing in every country: "That's so cheap!" Our prices are on par with or lower than pattern makers worldwide, with no freight costs or delays waiting for a physical pattern. And with express 48-hour turnaround available, you can say yes to the job that's just walked through your door.
Think of Pattern Room as a more convenient pattern making service: a pattern maker in your pocket, not a software subscription. The value isn't in the file. It's in 30 years of knowing which design elements work and how they perform in real production. And every order is prepared individually to your selection.
Yes. With Pattern Room Rewards, you earn 1 point for every $1 you spend, and you can use your points for discounts on future orders.
[Link: https://patternroom.com/pages/rewards]
Ordering more than 20 patterns at once? Let us know and we can discuss a discount.
"Free" patterns usually cost you more in extra sampling rounds, wasted fabric and production errors. A pattern made by your factory also generally belongs to the factory, not you. If you want to change factories, you may not be able to take it with you, and you'd have to start again. With Pattern Room, you get a pattern you can take to any factory, and the fit stays the same whoever makes it.
We don't offer change-of-mind refunds. Each order is made to your selection rather than pulled from stock. That's why we suggest starting with a single size, sampling it in your own fabric and booking a fitting before you order the graded set, the same process as working with a traditional pattern maker. You're also covered by our spec-match guarantee: if your files don't match your selection, we'll fix them.
No. Just like a traditional development process, the single-size pattern and the graded pattern are separate stages with separate work involved. The single-size pattern is how you check fit, shape and your fabric. Once you're happy, you move on to your graded pattern and tech pack.
A pattern that fits from the start means fewer sampling rounds, less wasted fabric and fewer errors in production.
Your pattern
Your patterns arrive by email in DXF and AI formats, so they work with pattern-making systems, Illustrator and CorelDRAW. Your graphic designer will love how easy they are to use.
- Single size: comes with a make sheet.
- Graded pattern: comes with a full spec sheet.
Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days, because every pattern is made to order. Need it faster? Choose express 48-hour turnaround for a 30% surcharge.
We check every pattern before it's sent. If anything doesn't match your selection, our spec-match guarantee covers it and we'll fix it.
Like any pattern maker, Pattern Room keeps the master pattern, but once we send yours, you can use it however you like. You can make changes, send it to any factory, use it across your range and make as many garments as you like. There are no ongoing fees or royalties, and you don't report back to us. The only thing you can't do is resell or share the pattern files as patterns.
No. We only sell complete patterns, not individual pieces. Adding a piece from one style onto another is what we call "Frankensteining" a pattern. It's a big no-go, and it can end in disaster even for people who know how to make patterns.
It might seem like a simple sleeve swap, but a good pattern isn't just a collection of separate pieces. When we prepare a pattern, we check the whole garment: every seam, notch, armhole and sleeve head, in every size of the graded set. The sleeve has to match the armhole, the shoulder shape, the body fit, the balance of the garment and the grading across all sizes.
Swap a single piece into the wrong pattern and the garment may not sew together properly, the fit may change and the grading may stop working. That's why we only sell full patterns checked as a complete garment. It protects the quality of your pattern, your production and your reputation with your manufacturer.
Yes. But we built your pattern, so we know every line of it. Coming back to us for a fitting is usually the quickest and cheapest way to make changes. We already have your file, so you're not paying someone else to learn the pattern from scratch.
Maybe, but it's unlikely. You build your own combination of design elements (sleeves, necklines, lengths and trims), and with millions of possible combinations, it's rare for two brands to choose the same one. It works the same way as any pattern maker: every pattern starts from tried -and-tested blocks, and popular styles turn up across many labels each season.
What makes your garment yours is your fabric, trims, graphics and the service you offer. And no two bodies are the same, so no one will ever know they're wearing the same pattern. They'll just know it fits well.
Styles we create, including those built from designs you send us, are added to the visual builder for others to use. Fitting alterations made for your order stay yours.
Yes. We can supply them either way:
- Card: we print and cut your pattern on card for $6 per pattern piece. We'll send you an invoice before we print.
- Paper: we print your pattern on paper and fold it up, ready to send, for $40 per pattern.
Freight is extra. So this is recommended for Australian customers only.
Our patterns are available in men's XS–8XL, women's 6–28 (US 2–24) and kids' 2–16.
There's nothing more confusing (and annoying) than needing one size in one garment and a different size in another. Our patterns give you consistent sizing across every garment, every time.
What we make
We cover sportswear, school wear, corporate, promotional and fashion styles. We started with knits and custom sportswear (tees, polos, singlets, dresses and more), and we're adding wovens, including jackets, pants, skirts and shorts. New categories go live in Pattern Flow as they're ready.
Custom sportswear and teamwear manufacturers, garment technicians, and fashion labels, from startups to established brands, all over the world.
Pattern Room grew out of Sample Room, our product development studio in Australia. Over 18 years of fittings, we found that briefing a design to a pattern maker is the hardest part of getting a garment made. Pattern Room makes that step easier, backed by 30 years of pattern making experience.
Yes. See who we work with and read their reviews on our Our Clients page.
[Link: https://patternroom.com/pages/our-clients]