2023 Registration is closed.

Join the waitlist to be notified for 2024 registration! Registration will open January 30th 2024, and the course will begin February 18th 2024.

Join my comprehensive quilt pattern writing course to take your ideas from design to launch.

This course will cover the low cost and free software tools that I use in my own business, with no need to shell out $500 a year for Adobe products. We will cover everything you need to know to turn your design ideas into profitable quilt patterns! Registration will open in early 2023.

Let me teach you in 7 weeks what it took me years to learn: How to produce high quality, successful patterns!

Registration Options

Choose the best option that fits your budget and your goals for this course!

  • Standard Student - $350

    As a standard student, you will get access to all course material, a community group where you can interact with other students and ask questions, and weekly live Q&A sessions.

  • VIP Student - $450

    As a VIP student, you will access to everything a standard student receives, PLUS you will receive a personal business coaching session during or after the course and an in depth high level review of your first pattern (note that this does not include a math check).

After This Course, You Will Have:

  • Jump started your journey towards owning a profitable pattern writing business

  • Sidestepped years of trial and error and wasted effort to learn a tried and true approach to pattern writing

  • The skills to take designs from an idea in your head to diagrams and instructions on paper, all the way through a pattern launch.

  • A low cost software toolkit that can streamline your design process and produce clear, professional diagrams and patterns

  • The math skills to easily calculate yardage requirements and block sizes

  • A completed very first pattern, and a plan to launch!

  • Lifetime access to course materials

Course Schedule

This course will run for 7 weeks in starting February 26th, 2023. Registration will be open from February 7th - February 14th.

Student Testimonials

See what past students are saying!

Mija Handmade

Erin Nichole

I was incredibly nervous before I wrote my first quilt pattern. I had so many questions – and there were so many more questions I didn’t even know to ask. Plus, it’s scary doing something for the first time all on your own. Once I signed up for the Pattern Writing Academy, all that changed. Spending time with the modules and talking to all the other quilters gave me access to so much information. All my questions were answered, all my fears were soothed and many good friends were made. They showed me that I wasn’t alone in feeling a little nervous, but also to not listen too much to my nerves. They taught me that I DO have something worth sharing with the quilting and pattern design community. And that was a huge gift to walk away from the PWA with – the community and support that convinced me pattern writing is totally worth it.

Bookends Quilting

Steph Forster

Alderwood Studio’s Pattern Writing Academy was exactly what I needed to start writing my own quilt patterns. Amber thoroughly covers everything you’ll need to learn from the design process with affordable and often free tools to actually writing the pattern. Not only was she incredibly helpful and reachable during the course, but she’s continued to answer my questions long after the course has ended. I can’t recommend Amber’s pattern writing course enough!

Strawberry Creek Quilts

Bhiravi Rathinasabapathi

The Pattern Writing Academy gave me all of the tools I needed to write and launch my first pattern! Amber is a seasoned pattern writer and a great teacher. Her training and encouragement gave me the confidence to release my first pattern, knowing that it met a high standard of quality and design. Amber fosters the kind of thoughtful, respectful, and inclusive space that I would like to see more of in our modern quilting community. PWA allows you to form bonds and friendships with other designers, and helps you make the kinds of industry connections you’ll need as a new designer.

Wellspring Design Co

Casey Cometti

This course has been a game changer for my quilting business! The information and techniques presented would have taken me years to learn on my own. Amber complied, organized, and presented her knowledge in a way that was approachable and cohesive, and on top of that, she consistently made herself accessible to answer specific questions. I can’t recommend this class enough!!

Cabin Week Projects

Cabrini Merclean

This course has truly been a gift. It’s allowed me to share my vision and talent and message with a much broader audience while earning a little bit of an income. It really also influenced how I created and marketed play kits, so it even has a broader scope than making traditional patterns. I was on the fence about it for a while because it was a financial investment for sure but it’s definitely paid off many times over. I can’t speak highly enough about it!

Blossomed Chaos

Fatema Aljazeeri

The pattern writing academy was exactly the courage and push that I needed to make my dreams come true. I’ve been wanting to write my own pattern for years but I just believed that I couldn’t. This course approaches writing a pattern in a very methodological way. Amber breaks it down in such a manner where it is very easy to follow. She thoroughly explains how to use the softwares tackling all the details needed to design and write the pattern. I encourage you to take this course if you would like to translate your ideas into an actual pattern!

Squats and Running Stitches

Summer Davis

I entered the Pattern Writing Academy with a strong desire to learn how to create illustrations for the quilt patterns I had already designed. I had no graphic design experience and was really struggling with what software to use and how to use it. I left the Pattern Writing Academy with a pattern ready to release, experience with illustrations including template design and access to free/affordable design tools. I love that I am still able to access the lesson plans and that my patterns have afforded me the ability to pay for my hobby. I highly recommend it for aspiring quilt pattern designers.

Getz Made Co

Jamie Getz

I went into the PWA as a student with an open mind hoping to learn something new. Amber exceeded my expectations. I appreciated how she had multiple softwares for us to choose from and that she gave us tasks within those softwares to practice pattern graphics. Her video check ins were something I looked forward to each week because she was so thoughtful in her suggestions and advice. Though pattern writing may never be profitable for my business, I am proud to have learned this skill just for me. 💗

Zahm Co

Katie Zahm

I could not have asked for a better launch pad for my pattern writing journey. When I signed up for the Pattern Writing Academy, I was a quilter with big dreams for my business but only a few sketches on paper. Amber made pattern writing accessible, breaking it down into comprehensive components. Invest in yourself and join me on a journey of doing what you love!

Juniperus Threadworks

Annette Rice

I highly recommend the PWA for any quilter at all interested in pattern writing. Amber's course incorporated practical instruction with a ton of great examples and an easy way to go back and refer to lessons later on, when I was in the middle of a tricky project. Her tutorials on how to design and break down a wide variety of quilt blocks took the stress out of designing and planning. Not only that, but she provided low-cost and no-cost software options for all types of operating systems, which made every step of the process so much smoother, even on a Chromebook!

FAQ

  • Is this a live course, or can I take it on my own time?

    This course spans 7 weeks, with a new module released every week (with the exception of two modules that take two weeks). While it will be easier to participate in the course community and ask questions if you keep up with the modules, they can be completed on your own time whenever it's convenient for you and you will continue to have access to all materials after the course. There is only one live component of this course, which is a weekly Q&A session. Questions can be submitted before the Q&A, and they are always recorded so you can still ask questions and get answers even if you aren't able to attend live.

  • Will you cover Adobe or EQ8 software?

    This course does not cover Adobe products or EQ8 for two reasons: 1) While I have these tools and have used them in the past, I don't use them in my own pattern writing workflow and 2) I don't believe you need to spend $500+ on software tools just to get started. Instead, we will cover lower cost or free comparable software tools that I use to write my own patterns.

  • What kind of computer or laptop do I need for this course?

    You can take this course with a Mac or a PC (or even a Linux or Chrome based operating system). I've made sure that there are software tools discussed in this course that can accommodate almost any operating system! The one thing I don't suggest is taking this course only with an iPad. While you could technically use many of the tools with an iPad, you will have much more success using a laptop or desktop computer.

  • Do I need to be on Facebook for this course?

    This course has an optional Facebook group for students who want to connect and ask questions, but it isn't required!

Extra Goodies

In addition to all course content, this class will offer you:

  • Peer Review Groups

    Form lasting relationships with other students who will review and help edit yourpatterns. My pattern editor is now one of the biggest assets in my business!

  • Modern Makes Design Competition

    At the end of the course, a design competition will be held. The winner(s) will be featured as a guest designer for the Modern Makes Membership in 2023!

  • Weekly Q&A Sessions

    Submit your questions during the week, and have them answered in a weekly live Q&A session hosted by me. All sessions will be recorded and posted to the website after the fact for anyone who can't join live.

Course curriculum

Check back every week for the next module!

  • 1

    MODULE 1: QUILT DESIGN 101

    • Course Schedule and Important Details

    • Creating a Career: Expectations

    • Pattern Writing Roadmap

    • Social Media

    • Design Styles

    • Design Inspiration

    • Cultural Appropriation in Quilting

    • Basic Blocks

    • Assignment 1: Converting an image to quilt blocks

    • Assignment 1: Solution

    • Color Theory

    • Quilt Sizing

    • Pattern Design Tools

    • Designing with Pattern Jam

    • Designing with PreQuilt

    • Assignment 2: Quilt Design and Social Media

  • 2

    MODULE 2: GRAPHIC SOFTWARE TOOLS

    • Software Tool Introduction

    • Vector Graphic Tools

    • Affinity Designer Student License

    • Affinity: Introduction to Designer

    • Affinity: Basic Diagrams and Shapes

    • Affinity: Fill & Stroke

    • Affinity: Curves

    • Affinity: Angles & Complex Shapes

    • Affinity: Cropping

    • Affinity: Exporting Diagrams

    • Affinity: Fabric Mockups

    • Affinity: Color and Coloring Pages

    • Graphic: Introduction and Diagrams

    • Graphic: Curves

    • Graphic: Angles

    • Graphic: Cropping

    • Graphic: Fabric Mockups

    • Graphic: Exporting Diagrams

    • Image Resolution and Exporting Diagrams

    • Troubleshooting Blurry Diagrams

    • Symbols and Icons

    • Construction Optimization

    • Curves & Templates

    • Affinity: Templates

    • Graphic: Templates

    • Border Attributes

    • Demonstrations: Block Diagram Demo with Graphic

    • Demonstrations: Design and Block Diagram Demo with Graphic

    • Demonstrations: Morgana Pattern with Affinity

    • Assignment 3: Practice Diagrams

    • Assignment 4: Quilt Design Diagrams

    • Assignment 5: Quilt Block Diagrams

  • 3

    MODULE 2B: COREL GRAPHIC SOFTWARE

    • Corel Introduction

    • Gravit: Block Diagrams

    • Gravit: Quilt Diagrams

    • Gravit: Cropping

    • Gravit: Curves

    • Gravit: Angles

    • Gravit: Pen and Compound Shape Tools

    • Gravit: Fabric Mockups

    • Gravit: Simple Coloring Pages

    • Gravit: Better Coloring Pages

    • Gravit: Templates

    • Gravit: Oversized Templates

    • Troubleshooting Blurry Diagrams: Gravit

    • Gravit: Border Attributes

    • Demonstrations: HST Diagram Demo with Gravit

  • 4

    MODULE 3: QUILT MATH

    • Introduction to Quilt Math

    • Block Calculations

    • Seam Allowance

    • Right Angle Triangle Calculations

    • On Point Quilts

    • Scant 1/4" Seam

    • Math Example: Log Cabin Blocks

    • Fabric Requirements

    • Overage

    • Math Example: Santorini Walkthrough

    • Cutting Diagrams

    • Calculating Binding and Backing

    • Assignment 7: Block Size Calculations

    • Assignment 8: Yardage Calculations

  • 5

    MODULE 4: PATTERN WRITING

    • Pattern Writing Process

    • Pattern Components

    • On Point Patterns

    • Pattern Walkthrough

    • Affinity Publisher: Pattern Writing Basics

    • Affinity Publisher: Using Document Templates

    • Affinity Publisher: Importing PDF Templates

    • Affinity Publisher: Page Numbers

    • Pages for Mac: Pattern Writing Basics

    • Marq/LucidPress: Pattern Writing Basics

    • Pattern Writing Best Practices

    • Pattern Errata

    • Technical Editing and Examples

    • Assignment 9: First Pattern Draft

  • 6

    MODULE 5: PATTERN LAUNCHING & BUSINESS BASICS

    • Business Basics

    • Pattern Testing

    • Pattern Launching: The Process

    • Pattern Launching: Promotion

    • Pattern Launching: A Note About Expectations

    • Print vs PDF Patterns

    • Quilt Design and Copyright

    • Assignment 10: Pattern Tester Form

    • Assignment 9: Pattern Feedback Review

    • Next Steps

    • Pattern Designer Collective & Business Basics Course

    • Bonus: Hosting a Quilt a Long

    • Bonus: Pinterest Basics

  • 7

    Bonus: Quilt Photography

    • Quilt Photography

  • 8

    Course Downloads

    • Course Downloads

  • 9

    Q&A Sessions

    • Module 1 Q&A

    • Module 2 Q&A Part 1

    • Module 2 Q&A Part 2

    • Module 3 Q&A

    • Module 4 Q&A Part 1

    • Module 4 Q&A Part 2

    • Module 5 Q&A