Eye #3 from Sketch to Embroidery Pattern

Darcy Place

In the last few years, Allyson has become fascinated with drawing designs featuring eyes. She’s sketched more than 30 different eyes and we’re gradually digitizing them.

She starts with pencil sketches and then develops a final pen-and-ink version. Once her design is digitized, we often need to simplify it a bit to make it easier to stitch.

Here is her Eye #3 from sketch to embroidery pattern to embroidered sample. The embroidery pattern is available for sale in our Etsy store.

How to Make Vector Patterns

Darcy Place

Bethany recently started experimenting with using Illustrator to create vector patterns to use in her artwork. Creating perfect seamless patterns is not the easiest task to do…it can be quite frustrating. After many hours and attempts to figure it out on her own, Bethany found the following excellent tips and techniques.

Vector Tuts+: How to Make a Foolproof Flowery Wallpaper Pattern
Step-by-step tutorial with a bonus video walkthrough.
Bethany’s thoughts: “Developing complex patterns requires planning and precision. This tutorial really explains the process well. I particularly liked the bonus tip about using Live Color to change colors once your pattern is finished.”

Spyre Studios: How to Design a Hand-Drawn Vector Pattern Using Pencils, Photoshop And Illustrator
Step-by-step tutorial that starts with a sketch that is scanned and then digitized before it becomes a vector pattern.
Bethany’s thoughts: “Great screenshots. And good insight into the thought process of creating a complex pattern including using a grid and thinking through your positioning.”

Bittbox: How to Make a Perfect Seamless Vector Pattern
How to create a simple vector pattern like polka dots or stripes.
Bethany’s thoughts: “This process is fast for creating the simple repetitive patterns…fewer steps than the other tutorials. Includes tips about easily aligning the pattern parts perfectly.”