Hi, my amazing, creative friend! I compiled my answers to most popular questions about textile design, software, tools and resources for you on this page. Hope you find it helpful! 🙂 TIP: You can search the question you need using Cmd+F keyboard shortcut to save time. 

NOTICE: There are some affiliate links on this page which means that if you sign up for a tool or purchase one I recommend I will get a small commission that goes to support my Youtube channel so that I can make more videos for you! Thank you so much!

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What is textile design?

Textile design is a form of design when you develop artwork and design for fabric. It is a part of a larger graphic design direction called surface pattern design. Here is my video about the different types of textile design: 

What are vector repeat patterns?

These are digital pattern designs that are created in vector design software in special formats (usually .ai or .eps) that once opened in a vector graphic software such as Adobe Illustrator CC, can be scaled up or down almost endlessly without the loss of quality of the image. Unlike raster designs (files such as JPG or PNG) that are loosing quality when scaled up. Here is my video about the difference between vector and raster files.

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Is only Adobe Illustrator needed for vector repeat pattern design? Can I use other free software?

I know that Adobe Illustrator CC software is an investment, but this is the industry-standard tool that all of my design clients requested because of the end files needed for the manufacturing process. I suggest if you can afford it,  staring directly in Adobe Illustrator so that you don’t waste time on the software that you will have to switch over to Illustrator anyway sooner or later.

Here is my video about the Adobe Illustrator benefits.

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How do I start as a textile designer?

I am so excited for you! You are going after your creative dreams and that is amazing. I know you have lots of questions and probably not sure where to begin your creative journey. That’s why I have compiled a video playlist with my advice on how to start your creative career and business as a textile designer.

If you are ready for a step-by-step system on how to create a business as I have created, please take a look at my Pattern It Up online course. I teach from start to finish how to create pattern collections that sell, how to automate pattern creation with templates, actions, and scripts that I developed, as well as how to start marketing your work online. You will get my support as well as the support of fellow students. 

Wishing you the best of luck! You can do it, my creative friend 🙂

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Do I need a graphic tablet to design vector patterns? Can I start without it?

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How can I start selling my vector repeat pattern designs online? 

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Can I just sell my designs through you, Oksancia? 🙂

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I am not good at drawing. Can I still design repeat patterns?

Yes, you can focus on geometric and abstract pattern styles if you want to start out and learn the pattern design system first, and then start practicing drawing weekly so that you can try hand-drawn styles more and more of you wish. Abstract and geometric styles are some of my good sellers. Here is my video with more on this.

Also, here is my other video where I show how to use geometric shapes in Adobe Illustrator to build more interesting shapes for repeat pattern design.

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I am a self-taught artist. Can I become a textile designer without a traditional art or design degree?

Yes, you absolutely can if you study, practice, and work hard on it. How do I now? Because I am myself a self-taught artist and designer 🙂 Here is my video for self-taught artists to overcome their beginner block and another video on how to get started as a self-taught designer. Hope you find support and inspiration in them. Good luck!