Affinity Designer 2 v Inkscape for Patterning?

I've been using Inkscape for a few months to do some basic svg work for 3d printing. In the next year I'd like to start delving in to digital patterning and would like to consolidate my software learning time. Given that affinity 2 is now free (yes?) if you could start from scratch, which software would you invest time in for the purpose of pattern making and why? TIA!