Sweet Repeats

Recently, I've been learning how to create repeats using both traditional and digital methods. I have been really enjoying this project, and I can't wait to do some more for fun!

We started off by creating hand drawn repeats on paper. My hand drawn repeat was based around a teacup! The process behind the creation was as follows:

1. Firstly, I grabbed an A4 sheet of paper and drew a teacup in the middle, and then drew images surrounding it

2. I then folded up the portrait A4 sheet into quarters

3. After unfolding the A4 sheet, I cut it into quarters using the folded lines as a guide

4. Next, I switched each corner with its diagonal, so the top left quarter was swapped with the bottom right quarter, and so on

5. Once I'd re-arranged the corners, I stuck the A4 sheet back together in its new formation

6. I took my sheet to the photocopier and produced four new copies

7. I stuck the four new copies together

8. I coloured the pattern using ProMarkers. I was stuck with what colours to choose, so my teacher suggested I colour the teacup blue and add in a vibrant pop of colour. After initially using a light pink, I decided to make the cherries and sweets a dark pink. You can see the transformation on the final outcome.

Before

After (Final Outcome)

Tea and Cake Repeat

The reason I needed to rearrange the corners was so that the pattern fit seamlessly when I put the 'tiles' (technical term check) together. If I hadn't re-arranged the corners, the pattern would have looked like four images stuck together instead of a seamless repeat.

This method was effective in creating repeat patters quickly, accurately and time effectively. Drawing the same design on multiple sheets would have taken much more time and produced a pattern that didn't match up properly.

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Digital Repeats

After traditional pattern making, we learnt how to create patterns on Illustrator. For this task, our brief was to create a repeat pattern of any food(s) we chose that would be printed onto wrapping paper for Paperchase, the stationery company. I chose sweet themed foods, starting with a cupcake, then designing an ice cream, biscuit and iced bun.

Sweet Treats Repeat

A unique choice of colours, I felt that this design looked fun, due to the art style, yet sophisticated due to the colour palette.

Green Ice Cream Repeat

This is a half block ice cream repeat. I like this one a lot! It's quite busy, but has a playful quality.

Pink Ice Cream Repeat

This design is definitely a favourite! You can see that this design features a smaller version of the ice creams in Green Ice Cream Repeat, and alternatively uses a baby pink background. I chose to use a handrawn version of an ice cream. I created a half block pattern by having the ice creams at alternate heights. I would definitely love this design as wrapping paper, a framable print, and, I feel it would even work great on a pair of socks!

Blue Cupcake Repeat

This is a basic pattern of a cupcake. Its simplicity means that it'd work well scaled up or down, and also isn't busy on the eye. It would look great on a birthday card. I could even be desaturated and used as a background in order for writing to be overplayed, maybe for a poster, birthday card or postcard.

Sweet Treats Repeat (2)

For this repeat, I chose to use a bolder colour palette. Although the colours of the iced bun and ice cream are somewhat unrealistic, the colours work so well not to produce it! I think it looks quite fun; it's got a birthday wrapping paper quality to it.

Cupcakes Repeat

I also love this design! This is a random pattern, although it repeats. The tile was filled with cupcakes in different directions, and repeated. I think this would work very well as wrapping paper for girls.

Sweet Treats 3

This image is another variation of two other designs I created. It uses a brown background, and altogether, it reminds me of a bakery

Gallery View

Click on the right side of the image below to see all of the repeat patterns in a larger view.

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Market Research

After finishing my patterns, I had a look at similar products on the market.

Cute Blue Cupcake with Kawaii Face Pattern Wrapping Paper, Zazzle

I found this cupcake half drop repeat pattern on zazzle.com that features a cupcake as its main element. It uses similar pastel colours to some of my designs.

Gingerbread Friends Wrapping Paper, Paperchase

This is a Christmas wrapping paper that has gingerbread characters and candy canes in a random repeat pattern. I love this wrapping paper; the red looks very Christmassy, and the gingerbread characters are really cute!

Image from paperchase.com

Zazzle

https://www.zazzle.co.uk/cute_blue_cupcake_with_kawaii_face_pattern_wrapping_paper-256848723315264824?rf=238141856467644329&tc=EAIaIQobChMIvdnKoKih8wIVSrrVCh21fAqPEAQYCyABEgJV5vD_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk_shopping&utm_term=PRODUCT_GROUP&ca_chid=2001810&ca_source=gaw&ca_ace=&ca_nw=g&ca_dev=c&ca_pl=&ca_pos=&ca_cid=492364533794&ca_agid=120159300927&ca_caid=12108371178&ca_adid=492364533794&ca_kwt=&ca_mt=&ca_fid=&ca_tid=pla-307375741865&ca_lp=1007092&ca_li=&ca_devm=&ca_plt=&gncclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvdnKoKih8wIVSrrVCh21fAqPEAQYCyABEgJV5vD_BwE

Paperchase

https://www.paperchase.com/en_gb/gingerbread-friends-wrapping-paper-10m.html