Become a confident digital pattern maker in 6 months
The Digital Pattern Drafting Academy teaches you CLO3D pattern drafting step by step, on the path that fits your goal, with live help from me every week. Illustrator and Affinity Designer are covered too.
6 months of access
Weekly live office hours
Beginner friendly
Opened CLO3D, then closed it again?
You're not alone. Most sewists who try to learn digital pattern making on their own hit the same walls.
Too many buttons
You can't remember where anything is, or which tools you're actually supposed to use.
Tutorials that skip the pattern making
Most CLO3D videos are made for 3D artists, not for people who want a pattern that fits.
No idea where to begin
So you watch another video, try to learn everything at once, and never finish a pattern.
You don't need to learn every button. You need the right ones, in the right order, with someone to ask when you get stuck.
The Academy is for you if you…
It's built for creative sewists who are ready to go beyond following patterns and start making their own.
Love sewing and want to bring your own ideas to life digitally
Are curious about CLO3D or Illustrator but feel overwhelmed opening the software
Want patterns that actually fit, and to understand how to adjust them
Dream of selling your own digital sewing patterns
Want a clear path, with feedback and a community along the way
It's probably not for you if you're looking for 3D animation or rendering skills. The Academy is about making real patterns you can sew.
Choose your path. Nobody makes the same garment.
You'll start on the route that gets you to your goal fastest, instead of copying everyone else's project.
Draft your own sloper
Build a digital sloper from your own measurements: a fitted starting point for every pattern you make.
Best if you want a perfect-fit foundation
Start making sewing patterns
Use CLO3D's 2D Pattern Drafter to create new patterns quickly, without starting from scratch every time.
Best if you want to design and sell patterns
Alter the patterns you own
Fix the fit and change the style on your computer before you ever cut fabric.
Best if you have patterns you love that don't quite fit
From a pattern on screen to a garment you can wear
Bat-wing knit top
Pumpkin costume cape
Holiday sweater
I drafted each of these in CLO3D, tested the fit in 3D, then sewed them for real. This is the same process you’ll learn inside the Academy.
Live help from me, all along the way
You'll never be stuck on your own for long. Every session is recorded, so you can catch up anytime.
Every week
Implementation hours
Ask questions, share your screen and get live feedback on your pattern.
Every other week
Accountability calls
Set goals, share progress and stay on track with encouragement from your peers.
Every month
New training
A new lesson on a technique, tool or garment to add to your skills.
Every month
Patterning party
Pattern alongside other sewists around a theme, from unique sleeves to seasonal projects.
What's inside the Academy
Everything you need to go from your first digital sloper to a finished, sellable pattern.
Set up and draft your slopers
CLO3D Quick Start
CLO3D Pattern Drafting 101
Draft Woven Slopers in CLO3D
Draft Knit Slopers in CLO3D
Set Up Illustrator for Pattern Making
Draft Your Woven Sloper in Illustrator
Build your pattern skills
Digital Pattern Alteration Essentials
Pattern Grading Pro
Fabrics Unraveled
The Petite Pattern Architect
The Ultimate Digital Legging Blueprint
Get ready to sell
The Sewing Packet Blueprint
The Back Office
Replays of every past implementation hour, patterning party and monthly training.
Monthly training library
A growing collection of training packets, with more added every month.
See all bonus trainings (20+)
Grading Checklist
Grading Rules Start
Stretch Fabrics
Stretch Fabric Calculator
1860 Corset
Fitting with Friends
Filming for Your Avatar
Blender Basics
…and more
Bonuses included with your enrollment
Bonus
Digital Sloper Set
Bodice, sleeve and bottom slopers you can customize to your avatar, ready to use as the base for every design.
Bonus
Paper to Pixels
Turn your existing paper patterns into editable digital files you can use again and again.
Bonus
Sewing Pattern Project Tracker
Track design decisions, versions, fit tests, grading and publishing for every pattern.
Bonus
Seasonal Pattern Planner
Plan releases around seasons, trends and selling windows.
Bonus
Draft-to-Sold Checklist
Every step from digital draft to a polished pattern packet, so you always know what's next.
Bonus
Two custom AI assistants
One helps you write clear sewing instructions. The other writes product listings for Etsy and your website.
In 6 months, you'll…
Have slopers that fit
A library of reusable digital slopers built for your body or your customers.
Draft with confidence
Create and alter patterns in CLO3D or Illustrator without second-guessing.
Understand grading and fit
Know how to grade, fit and fix a pattern properly.
Be ready to sell
Build pattern packets and release your first pattern line, if that's your goal.
Be proud of your work
Trust your process, your patterns and your results.
What students say
"Christina makes something that seemed impossible feel completely doable."
Ana G.
Academy student
"I never thought I could make my own slopers digitally. Now I've created three designs I'm actually selling!"
Kenisha T.
Academy student
"Having feedback during implementation hours kept me going. I stopped second-guessing my skills and started creating."
Christina C.
Academy student
Join the Digital Pattern Drafting Academy
Choose the payment option that works for you. You get the same full access either way.
Everything included
6 months of full access to the Academy curriculum
Weekly implementation hours
Bi-weekly accountability calls
Monthly trainings and patterning parties
The Back Office replay library
Private community of digital sewists
All bonuses listed above
Monthly payments
$447
per month for 6 months
($2,682 total)
Pay in Full
$2497
one payment
Save $185
Hi, I'm Christina HadleyDike
Theater costume patternmaker turned digital pattern making teacher.
Costume design by Beth Goldenberg for The Suffragette’s Murder.
Pattern making by Christina HadleyDike for The Suffragette’s Murder.
The finished gown, built for The Suffragette’s Murder
A costume designer hands me a watercolor sketch: a blue gown with wide bell sleeves, a fitted peplum bodice and a full skirt. It’s beautiful, and it only exists on paper. My job is to make it real. For over 10 years, that was my work as a theater costume patternmaker, turning designers’ drawings into patterns, mockups and fittings until the costume on stage matched the sketch.
I learned to draft flat patterns digitally in Optitex during grad school. Then I taught myself to do it in Adobe Illustrator, and later CLO3D, where I could see a garment fit on a 3D body before I ever cut fabric. That changed everything for me. I wasted less fabric, made fewer test garments, and had far more freedom to try ideas.
I also remember how overwhelming those programs felt at first: too many buttons, and tutorials that never talked about patterns. That’s why I created the Academy. I want digital pattern drafting to feel approachable, so you can make garments you love to wear and share, and, if you want, build a pattern business of your own.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. I’ll be there every week to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience with CLO3D or Illustrator?
No. We start from the very beginning and build your skills step by step.
I'm not very techy. Can I still do this?
Yes. You'll get clear, step-by-step instructions for every software setup, plus screen-share demos and checklists that take the stress out of learning digital tools.
Will I get feedback on my patterns?
Yes. Between weekly implementation hours, bi-weekly accountability calls and Loom video feedback, you'll always be able to get eyes on your work and ask questions.
What if I fall behind or get busy?
Life gets busy. That’s normal, and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Every live session is recorded, so you can catch up on your own schedule. If I notice you haven’t been showing up, I’ll reach out to check in and see how I can help. Whenever you need it, we’ll sit down together, look at what you want to accomplish and where you are right now, and make a new plan that fits your life. Your goals can change, and your plan can change with them.
What happens after 6 months?
If you'd like to keep getting new trainings, patterning parties and implementation hours, you can move to a month-to-month membership and stay connected with the community.
Do I have to use CLO3D?
The Academy focuses on CLO3D, because it’s the fastest way to create and test sewing patterns, especially if you want to sell them. You’ll also get courses on pattern making in Illustrator and Affinity Designer. If you have a question about either one, bring it to the weekly implementation hour on Thursdays and I’ll help you there. Most trainings and patterning parties happen in CLO3D, because seeing the garment in 3D makes everything easier to understand.
What equipment or software do I need?
A laptop or desktop computer, your chosen software (CLO3D, Illustrator or Affinity Designer) and a reliable internet connection. A second screen and a three-button mouse are very helpful too.
How much does CLO3D cost?
CLO3D is a separate subscription you buy from CLO directly. See CLO’s website for current pricing. They offer a free trial, so you can get comfortable before you pay. If you’d rather start with lower-cost software, you can also use Affinity Designer or Illustrator.
Will CLO3D run on my computer?
CLO3D works on both Mac and PC, but it needs a fairly strong computer. Check CLO’s system requirements before you join, or book a call and I’ll help you figure out if your setup will work.
How much time do I need each week?
Most students spend 2–6 hours a week. The live calls are optional, and everything is recorded, so you can go at your own pace.
When are the live calls, and what time zone?
Implementation hours are every Thursday at 6 pm Mountain Time. Accountability calls, patterning parties and monthly trainings are on Mondays at 6 pm Mountain Time. If you can’t make it live, send your question ahead and watch the replay.
When do I get access?
Right away. You’ll get your login and a welcome email with your first steps as soon as you enroll. Then join the welcome session 30 minutes before Thursday’s implementation hour. We’ll make sure you’re set up, show you where everything is, and map out your path together.
Can I sell the patterns I make?
Yes. Anything you draft inside the Academy is yours to sew, sell and share.
Do I need to know how to sew or draft on paper first?
You’ll get the most out of the Academy if you already sew. Paper pattern-drafting experience helps but isn’t required. If you’ve drafted on paper before, you’ll find that proportion and scale come easier.