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For artists interested in surface pattern design, understanding different types of pattern repeats is an important way to expand their skills and create a well-rounded portfolio. Having a diverse set of repeat patterns—from toss and half-drop to stripes, diamonds, and ogees—shows not only your technical ability but also your versatility as a designer. Clients and collaborators often look for variety, and knowing how to create and tailor these patterns to suit different projects sets you apart and helps you stand out. Plus, getting comfortable with these designs can be a lot of fun as you experiment with balance, rhythm, and how motifs interact with each other on a larger scale.
The variety may sound confusing, but it really doesn’t have to be. The following information will review a few of my favorites which comprise the majority of the most common repeat types, along with examples.
1.Toss or Random Pattern
I personally love creating random seamless repeating patterns where the motifs are tossed around in many directions. What attracts me about these random patterns is how it feels like solving a puzzle. I love to create them in such a way that they can be viewed or used in most any direction.
I start most of my pattern collections with this toss or random pattern which becomes my “hero” pattern. I create many motifs and many filler elements, using 10-16 colors in a palette I carefully create, partially before I start and adjusting and adding to it as I go. I incorporate plenty of principles of design here, always keeping balance and unity in the forefront. In the end, all the coordinating patterns in the collection will be complements to this pattern design.
The hero really sets the tone or foundation for the whole collection. This image (left), in Affinity Designer, shows the asset panel. I created 36+ elements for this pattern. There is no rule stating the number of elements necessary to create a hero pattern design. However, I will tell you from experience, the more assets you have, the easier it is to formulate the pattern. I take many unused flowers to other pattern collections, so it is a win-win, or I use them to make the coordinates.
For the initial hand drawn sketches, I either work on paper and photograph or scan the roughs, or I do them in Procreate as a pencil sketch, ink them, then take them into a vector program to vectorize. I teach the entire process for both Affinity Designer and Illustrator. I also use Photoshop for pattern design and I have several classes for that as well.
In order to have this pattern seamless, I repeat the elements exactly on all four sides of the square. In this case, it is a half-drop repeat, so you will see the items on the left moved to halfway down the height of the square on the right side. This is all done AUTOMATICALLY with my templates. I only have to place the motif once!
I explain every nuance of this process in classes such as my three part series in Affinity Designer found here: Affinity Designer Subscription Bundle. Once you complete the class, you have a template for all future half-drop repeats you wish to create.
My next favorite commonly used surface pattern repeat is the half drop. It works in columns so that the main tile or swatch is dropped by half the height for the next column. I love this type of repeat because it is much more dynamic and it can be harder to spot the repeat. This is a great way to create a more complex design and shows the viewer that you know what you are doing. To learn how to make these repeats, I would recommend the following classes, but there are plenty more:
In Photoshop: Half Drop Repeats in Photoshop
In Affinity Designer: Full Drop Butterfly Repeat Pattern
In Procreate: Automation and Templates for Pattern Design in Procreate
Here is an example of how I create patterns in Procreate, though I rarely use it for pattern design any more. I miss the lack of a preview with Procreate where you see your entire repeat as you are working on it, which is why I mostly work in Affinity Designer for patterns now.
3. Brick Pattern Repeat
Much like the half drop, the brick repeat is also a common repeat type used in surface pattern design to offer variety. It’s similar to the
half drop pattern repeat except that it is done is rows rather than columns. The repeat tile is offset by half, much like you would see in a brick wall. It is also more difficult to spot the repeat and shows that you are a well-rounded designer.
4. Grid or Block Repeat Pattern
A grid repeat pattern is created when the same element or group of elements is repeated in a grid formation. The repeat is created by lining up the tile directly beside the original. It is most often created as a square but can also be a rectangle.
These are both examples of a grid repeat pattern. To make this sort of pattern, you will see the elements repeated exactly, from one side of the pattern tile to the other, both side to side and top and bottom.
The grid pattern is one of the easiest patterns to make because of its simple construction.
I now have an automated system for producing this sort of repeat in Procreate. It uses a system where you draw the central area of the square with whatever you want your main motif to be, then you flip each quadrant of your design both vertically and horizontally. This reveals the rest of the area you need to fill to complete the pattern. Here is the link to the class again:
If you’d like to try this repeat in Procreate without the automation, you can also check out these classes:
Easy Repeat Patterns in Procreate Using Brushes or Retro Repeat Patterns in Procreate
5. Stripe Patterns
You’ve probably seen this type of pattern repeat: it is the stripe pattern. A stripe can be made from a simple set of repeating lines, which is very common. A variation would be this sort of complex stripe which uses multiple design elements to create the stripe itself. This is also a fairly easy repeat to do, as long as the top and bottom elements are lined up perfectly. I show you how!
Look at my example for the complex stripe to the right. To make this type of pattern, I repeated the elements at the top edge of my repeat swatch the exact same distance as the height of the swatch (this is done automatically if you use
my templates in Affinity Designer). Otherwise, if doing it manually, for a 10x10 inch square the centre of the large light-yellow flower, for example, was repeated exactly 10 inches down from the top edge of the swatch. Side to side is easy in this type of pattern because there were noelements on the edge.
There are many variations to stripes. Here are a couple of recent pattern coordinates I made with stripes.
To create a diamond repeat, you will repeat the diamond shapes next to each other as shown. Sometimes, the groupings of elements are not connected to each other. Again, I have a template for this. I am happy to have done the heavy lifting for you! I can even have the elements on the edges touching or overlapping when I use that template.
Alternately, there might have some elements carry into the adjacent grouping while continuing to maintain the diamond look. You can vary the look of the pattern by having the side-to-side elements the same and a contrasting top and bottom element. This type of repeat will result in a diagonal pattern.
6. An Ogee Pattern
An ogee is a distinctive pattern created with continuous s-curves. It can be compared to an onion’s shape. This pattern has a pleasing flow and rhythm and is used in many cultures for a variety of design purposes, including architecture and upholstery. In this example, I alternated the fill of each vertical row to add visual interest.
There are many other pattern repeat types that you can explore, like plaid, scallop or shell repeat and many specific variations of the pattern types listed above, and even damasks or paisley patterns. Much can be learned from studying historical pattern designs to! Take the time to look at my Surface Pattern Design boards on Pinterest.
Building up your skills in creating different types of pattern repeats takes time, but it’s well worth the effort. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll find it easier to adapt your work for various purposes while keeping it fresh and engaging. Whether it’s for textiles, stationery, or home goods, having a solid understanding of these patterns will give you confidence in your abilities and open up new creative possibilities.
A well-rounded surface pattern designer will have a variety of pattern repeat examples in their portfolios. Knowing how to choose and create the right repeat for a pattern is a necessary fundamental skill.
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Keep practicing, enjoy the process, and remember that every step forward is progress toward growing as a designer. Keep going—you’ve got this!
Enjoy your pattern design journey!
