In the past, I have written a multitude of articles about grid-based patterns.
When I see a grid-based pattern, I break it down into blocks or segments. First I look at the individual block.
Repeating this block without rotation creates a pattern. I would call the single block pattern the Base pattern.
This pattern is based on a 4×4 grid. One block is rotated – to turn this 2×2 block into a pattern, the step-out must be drawn on a 4×4 grid. And this would be a child pattern.
What happens when you turn the block? Below you see a couple of possibilities demonstrated with a simple block containing the letter A. Each rotation has been marked in a different color.
Below is one of my practice sheets. This is what I do with all grid-based patterns to find out the true potential.
To make the difference even clearer, I have colored the page.
All this is old news though. Let’s put more emphasis on how to create a play page and create new patterns!
One aspect, that many pattern designers have not used often is to RESIZE the shapes. You don’t have to draw a shape to fill one section of the grid. Have a look at the image below. You might just get inspired to try something new.
Let’s take Loops as an example:
Try to resize and rotate, flip and turn!
Below is an extract from a play page:
Yes, they would all be patterns, the question is, are these patterns worth sharing? Not every repetition of shapes turns into a nice pattern. Sometimes you have to really work on a design to make it look attractive. But that is the fun part! Keep on playing until you find a combination of shapes in different sizes and directions.
Just like you did with ribbon patterns, create a couple of different ideas on a play page, number each design and post it in the group. DO NOT CREATE A STEP-OUT! Just a play page!
You might also look at the section featuring grid-based patterns to check which designs already exist.
Let’s get started!
You might want to read up on the next write-up that explains how to rotate shapes:
How to create a pattern – Part 13: Creating a step-out for a grid-based pattern