Do you have to have Ambitions for this to work?
The "Create a Pattern" tool is stand alone program.
Here's a quote from the read me.
Please note: The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool is used in conjunction
with The Sims 3.
The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool can be run without an installation of The
Sims 3 on the same computer, but The Sims 3 must already be installed in
order to share patterns created with this tool.
As far as I know, the patterns you make with this tool are generic, so they should work in any version of the game you own.