About Xochil Herrera Scheer: The Chicago Pattern Maker

Xochil Herrera Scheer provides professional pattern making and fashion design services to businesses and individuals in the Chicago area, and remotely to clients throughout the US.

Xochil made Chicago her home in 2003, moving from her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She has a BFA in Fashion Design from The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, and graduate degree in entrepreneurship from DeVry University. Xochil is a detail oriented, results driven task master, and enjoys the analytic side of fashion, making products come to life through strategic sourcing and technical details.

Xochil has worked with numerous brands and designers to bring their concepts from sketch to reality. She has a strong skill set in technical design, pattern making, material sourcing and prototype development with production in mind. She has a keen understanding of the manufacturing process through working with various factories, training and using industrial equipment, and being closely involved with clients throughout product development. Her background in tailoring and being a lifelong sewer has helped shape her skills in garment fit and construction techniques.

Specializing in pattern making for both knit and woven materials, she enjoys working in the contemporary "ready-to-wear" market (and loves a good blazer), as well as more complex technical pieces including outerwear and workwear. She has extensive experience in athletic activewear and performance apparel for men and women, including swimwear and undergarments. Xochil enjoys learning about innovative materials and applying them to new designs. 

Xochil is currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Apparel Industry Board Inc. (AIBI), and is proud to be a Board Member of the SEAMS Association, where she contributes as a writer for a bi-monthly column called "X-Files". She loves being involved in the local and domestic fashion community through promoting experiences, events and professional development. She is also passionate about Made in USA and ethical products, sourcing and manufacturing.

Xochil's work has been featured in: E-Textile Communications, Chicago SPLASH, BRAVA Magazine, Chicago Sun Times, MODA Fashion Gazette, New City Chicago. Xochil was also included in a segment on the ABC 7 Chicago show, 190 North. She was honored to be named a Rising Star by SPESA in 2021.

Elaine Greiner

Elaine Greiner is a Technical Design Assistant at The Chicago Pattern Maker. Elaine graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2021 with a focus in fashion product development and a minor in marketing. As a student, Elaine showcased her collection “Magnetic Anatomy” at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which merged her design concepts with her awareness and interest in sustainable sourcing and materials.

Elaine's enthusiasm for the fashion industry continued to grow throughout her college career, and was highlighted during her senior capstone project in collaboration with LEV Apparel (with Xochil as her professor). During this capstone project she was given the opportunity to design new products and create a marketing proposal through in-depth brand research.

Elaine previously worked for Chicago bridal designer Alyssa Kristin Bridal as a Business and Design Intern, and was then promoted to Patterning Assistant. In this position she was able to learn key pattern making skills, practice quality control, and regulate weekly inventory for over 45 boutiques worldwide.

Elaine’s experiences have expanded her interest in technical design and the overall product development process. Having had a great experience learning from Xochil during her senior year at Columbia, she is excited to join the team at TCPM as Technical Design Assistant.

Melissa Petersen

Melissa Petersen is a Design Assistant at the Chicago Pattern Maker. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and a minor in Business.

Her senior thesis collection focused on textile prints and embellishment, which helped her land a role working as a designer for a textile and garment components company after graduation. While in this position, she designed and coordinated the company's bi-annual print collections and was involved with all steps of the process, from initial ideas and designs, all the way to production and distribution. She also was added as a member of the marketing team, and managed the company website and digital showroom, social media, and the design and creation of marketing materials for the company's products. She worked closely with the global sales team to make sure that they were well-equipped with any and all samples and materials that they needed.

Melissa has also previously worked in various positions as a seamstress, as well as interned for several Chicago-based clothing designers. She has been sewing since she was 14 years old, and her experience with and knowledge of garment construction greatly helps her in her current position as design assistant working on tech packs and creating technical flats. She is enthusiastic to now work for TCPM and is glad to be contributing her talents and skills to the company.