Pattern Making Assistant

This is part of the Occupational Certificate: Apparel Patternmaker and Grader and equips the learner with the necessary skills and competence to operate as Pattern Making Assistants. Pattern Making Assistants create different types of blocks for different product types, analyse and apply standard measurements, analyse the human form, apply different sizing systems and analyse the requirements for various types of blocks. Qualifying learners will be skilled and capable of constructing ·blocks for patterns using both traditional and modern techniques, materials and fabrics to produce aesthetically pleasing and fit for purpose consumer products.

Sophisticated garment construction and manufacturing processes within a competitive and challenging environment characterised the clothing manufacturing industry. The garment products manufactured must meet a wide variety of specifications, related to quality, customer and consumer, contextual (i.e. leisure, sport, work, fashion) and even safety specifications. The industry has to respond to quality issues and increasing competition in export, import, and domestic markets while ensuring the global competitiveness of products and profitability of the companies. Within the garment construction and manufacturing industry, people working as patternmakers and graders require specialised technical skills and knowledge about the construction of garments and the properties and characteristics of the textiles used meeting garment specifications critical to the manufacturing process, quality assurance practices. Patternmakers and graders need to put processes in place to adapt to and meet the requirements of the constantly changing manufactured products. Learners will find employment as Pattern Making Assistants. These skills will also open opportunities for self-employment. Target learners are school leavers with an NQF Level 2 qualification or persons working in the clothing industry without formal qualifications and has the desire to formalise their skills and knowledge. Employers will benefit from appointing qualified workers in terms of increased productivity and the ability to be competitive in the international market and seek markets abroad, supplying quality manufactured apparel articles.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): • RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment. • Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: • Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF 4 with Mathematical Literacy. Or • NQF Level 1 (AET Level 4) with a minimum of three years' assessed experience in a pattern-making environment.

• Interpret garment brief, complete product specifications and complete basic technical drawings.
• Explain the processes involved in the design and development of a sewn product.
• Take body measurements and reading basic size charts.
• Draft basic blocks.