Online · Self-Paced · Credentialed
The technical foundation every designer needs — from anywhere.
The RED Online Pattern Making Certificate teaches the craft that turns a sketch into a wearable garment — drafting, grading, and the precision construction that underpins every collection. Credentialed, self-paced, and built to fit a real life while you gain a real skill.
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online & self-paced
Credentialed
certificate on completion
Anywhere
no relocation required
Real craft
tactile-first methodology
The program
Pattern making is the backbone of fashion. Learn it properly.
A designer who can't pattern is dependent on everyone else. Pattern making is what gives you control over how a garment is actually built — the difference between sketching ideas and producing something real, repeatable, and ready for a sample room.
This online certificate brings RED's tactile-first teaching methodology to a flexible, self-paced format. It stands on its own as a professional credential, and it's also a natural on-ramp into the full 15-month in-studio Fashion Design Certificate for students who want to go further.
What you'll master
The curriculum.
Foundations of Pattern Making
The principles behind every pattern: measurements, ease, grain, and the logic that connects a body to a flat pattern.
Drafting Core Blocks
Build the foundational blocks — bodice, sleeve, skirt, trouser — that every garment pattern is derived from.
Pattern Adaptation & Styling
Transform blocks into design: necklines, silhouettes, collars, and the creative adaptations that turn a basic into a collection.
Grading & Sizing
Scale a single pattern across a full size range with industry-standard grading techniques used in production.
Construction & Seam Allowances
Add the production-ready details — seam allowances, notches, facings — that make a pattern buildable in a real sample room.
Digital Pattern Workflow
Translate hand-drafted patterns into a digital workflow, preparing you for how pattern making happens in modern fashion houses.
Built for
Designers, makers, and career changers — wherever you are.
Independent designers
You run a small label or work solo and need real control over how your garments are constructed — not reliance on a pattern maker for every step.
Aspiring professionals
You’re building the technical foundation to enter the industry or step up into the full 15-month in-studio Fashion Design Certificate.
Remote learners
You want a credentialed fashion education without relocating — a serious program that fits around a real life and a real schedule.
The path forward
Start online. Continue in-studio when you're ready.
Many students use the Online Pattern Making Certificate as their entry point — building technical skill and confidence before continuing into the flagship 15-month in-studio Fashion Design Certificate in Norwalk. The credit transfers naturally, so you never repeat what you've already mastered.
Explore the 15-Month Certificate →FAQ
Questions, answered.
Do I need any prior experience?+
No. The certificate starts from first principles and builds systematically. You only need the discipline to work through a self-paced program and the desire to learn a real, transferable craft.
How is it self-paced?+
You move through the modules on your own schedule. There are no fixed class times, so the program fits around work, family, and life — while the credentialed certificate waits for you at the end.
Do I need special equipment at home?+
You'll need basic pattern-making supplies — paper, rulers, scissors, and a few standard tools. We provide a complete equipment list before you start, and everything is affordable and readily available.
Does this credit toward the 15-month in-studio certificate?+
Yes. The Online Pattern Making Certificate is a natural on-ramp into the flagship Fashion Design Certificate. The technical foundation you build here carries directly into the in-studio program, so you never repeat what you've already mastered.
Is the certificate recognized?+
RED Fashion School is Connecticut's first state-licensed Fashion Design Certificate Program. The Online Pattern Making Certificate carries the same institutional credibility as our in-studio credential.
Take the next step
Request program information.
Tell us a little about you. Our team will reach out personally within two business days with details on curriculum, pacing, pricing, and how to enroll.