If you follow me on you know I’ve been pattern crazy lately. Since I started to post the patterns, a lot of folks have asked about my process and how I’m creating them.
I thought I’d demystify the process and share how I make them with you here. I’ve never taken a course in pattern design, this is just my method that I came to after playing around with making patterns over the years.
I’m not sure if this is how everyone else does it but it works for me. If you’ve got some Photoshop skills, this will be pretty easy to replicate, if not, this will seem hella complicated so you may wanna head over to who has a pretty great tutorial by the wonderful on repeating patterns that doesn’t require Photoshop) Read on to get the scoop on my meathod1. I start off by doing watercolor sketches in my notebook.
Simple enough, right?2. Next I scan the page into the computer at 300DPI.3. After I import the scanned jpg into photoshop, I cut out each shape/sketch using the Magic Wand tool or the Magnetic Lasso tool and paste them all onto separate layers.4.
Making the pattern isn't the problem, it's trying move into the. Comes up with this 'Patterns cannot contain anything painted with a pattern' BS. Decorative painting projects and projects with free patterns.
Then I create a new document and make a square or rectangle shape from the Guides.5. Next I start cutting and pasting the shapes into the square. I move them around until I like the way they look. I may tweak the colors at this stage to get the right tones. It’s OK if the shapes go outside the lines.5.
Once I’ve filled up the square, I turn it into a clean tile. And this is the trickiest part of the whole deal. You see how that grey feather on the left is poking outside the Guide? Well, using the Rectangular Marquee tool I cut the part that’s outside the box. I add a new Guide to mark the top of where the piece is going outside the line (as shown above) and paste it at that exact same place, but on the opposite side of the square.6. Now you’ll notice that the part of the feather that was over the line, is now on the opposite side of the square. Next, I repeat this step with all of the pieces that are coming outside the square even a little bit.
So if you look at the orange leaf in the upper left corner, you’ll notice the top of the leaf is now down on the bottom, left corner of the tile. Now be sure to save a version of your tile in PSD format, so that the layers remain in tact before moving to the next step.7.
Hide the background layer and Merge Visible Layers so that your tile is now all on one layer. Now you just select all, copy and paste your tiles to line them up together and to start the repeat.8. Keep on adding pieces on all sides and make the repeat as small as four squares or as large as your computer will allow9. Next I like to play with background colors and see how it changes the look and feel of the pattern.10.
And that’s it! It really just takes some practice, but once you get it down it’s actually pretty amazing how fast and easy it can be to make a repeating patternwatch out though, it’s addicting!Once you have your repeat pattern done, you can use companies like or to design your own wallpaper, fabric or gift wrap. Wouldn’t it be fun to make fabric and upholster a chair or make curtains with your own watercolor sketches?! I can’t wait until I get to start to see my patterns appearing in jungalows around the world–and hopefully that will be happening soon– but more on that laterLet me know if you have any questions!
Long time reader — first time commentI love how organic your process is, but there is a much less time consuming way to make a repeat in Photoshop:-Build your composition in a photoshop file (no clipping, make it fill but not break frame and it can be any size or ratio)-Then select all layers, right click and make it a smart object (non destructive and still editable). Then, go into Filter Other Offset.
This Filter will tile your pattern.-Divide the composition equally (if your composition was 1600x1600px, offset by 800px and 800px) Now you have a perfect repeat.-Then I fill in the center of the composition with more elements.And you have a lovely repeat with no grid-based cutting or hassle. Love this post – what a beautiful pattern!I have a (silly?) question about scanning, hoping you can offer insight since it was watercolor you were scanning.I do a lot of rendering with chartpak markers, and have started watercolor more recently. Any time I try to scan my work into the computer to use in Photoshop for projects, the color/contrast gets super blown-out!
My once beautiful/subtle color looks nothing like it did on paper. I tried scanning at different resolutions/pixels but that did not help my problem, unfortunately. Can I ask what your trick is or what kind of scanner you have? Even when I have taken work to a copy store like FedEx-Kinko’s it seems to distort beyond what I was expecting.Any advice would be deeply appreciated, as I am mystified!!!Your work is beautiful, thank you for sharing!Sincerely,Kelly.
I have just wrapped up publishing a brand new course for Skillshare called and I'm so excited to share it with you.If you're comfortable using Adobe Illustrator, it's time to tackle the more advanced techniques we can use to build complex, beautiful repeating patterns.