Surface Pattern Designer’s Workbook

Guidelines and templates for your repeat pattern sketches

 I created this workbook for myself to be able to stay organised, to avoid doodling in 5 different notebooks or flying papers. 

Also sometimes I’m working on a project and an idea comes to me. I grab the Workbook and quickly sketch down my idea. For the peace of my mind, it’s not on a random paper. This way I can stay organised and revisit it later.

In the first pages you can find a few really basic pieces of information I gathered over the years. Basic repeat types and names.

I created a chart to guide me when I create a collection. And a list of a few other aspects to keep in mind while I create a collection.

I also made an idea generator list. Topics to explore, holidays occasions to create for.

A list of styles and techniques to explore. And a list of geometric patterns I can refer back to when I want to create coordinates.

I find these lists really helpful. I often find myself going through them to boost my creative juice flow.

There is plenty of space to add your ideas and complement the lists.

Then you’ll find two page spreadsheets on the next pages, where you can have your first sketch ideas for a collection.

I created two kinds of spreadsheets.

The first kind of spreadsheet is concentrating on a big collection made up from 12 patterns. Which is an ideal number if you are looking for licensing your designs to fabric manufacturers, to dip your toe into the quilting industry. You can offer your collection with 2-3 colour palettes.

You have space for your Hero pattern, for two complex secondary prints, 5 simple coordinates and 4 blander prints.

The second kind of spreadsheet can accommodate a collection made up of 7 patterns, or two mini collections, one made up of 3 patterns and the other one made up of 4 patterns. 

At the end of the workbook you can find a few pages where you can take notes.

It's a nice big letter size workbook, 8.5 by 11 inch, which is close to A4 size.

I wanted to make this workbook available for other creatives too, if you are like me, and you think it would help you to stay focused and organised you can have it. 

I published this Workbook on Amazon. It’s available with paperback and hardcover too. Make sure to find it at your nearest Amazon channel, so you can avoid excessive shipping costs or possible import duties.