Welcome

Oh. Hello there.

You’ve found the Pattern Room.

Excellent.

Step inside, choose a comfortable spot, and try not to distract Biscuit, who is currently investigating whether patterns improve if you stare at them very intensely.

Here, you’ll find nine simple patterns that artists, designers, and doodlers have been using for a very long time.

First, you’ll learn them.

Then, you’ll practise them.

Finally, you’ll create a pattern library of your own.

Patterns appear everywhere once you start noticing them: in leaves, scales, tiles, fabrics, shells, architecture, borders, mandalas, and sketchbooks.

The more patterns you learn, the more visual tools you have available whenever you want to decorate, design, or invent something new.

So choose a pattern, sharpen your pencil, and begin.

The Pattern

Dots are one of the simplest patterns you can make, but they are also one of the most useful. A single dot is small. A row of dots starts to feel organised. A whole page of dots can become a texture, a border, a background, or a secret little rhythm.

This pattern is a good place to begin because it teaches spacing. When the dots are close together, the pattern feels busy. When they are spread apart, it feels calm and open.

You'll Find It In

Ladybirds, mushrooms, fabric prints, wrapping paper, decorations, borders, bubbles, pebbles, seeds, and starry skies.

You Can Try

Use bigger dots, tiny dots, alternating sizes, coloured dots, dots inside circles, or dots connected with short lines.

Your Turn

Observe the dots, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Stripes are made from repeated lines. They can be straight, neat, wobbly, thick, thin, close together, far apart, or slightly overexcited.

This pattern is useful because stripes can quickly fill a space, create movement, or make a design feel organised. Even a simple set of lines can change the whole feeling of a drawing.

You'll Find It In

Clothes, flags, shells, fences, wrapping paper, notebooks, fabric, buildings, animal markings, and decorative borders.

You Can Try

Make thick stripes, thin stripes, alternating stripes, broken stripes, dotted stripes, diagonal stripes, or stripes with tiny patterns inside them.

Your Turn

Observe the stripes, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Zigzags are made from lines that change direction sharply. They move up, down, up, down, as if the pattern is marching along with very pointy shoes.

This pattern is useful when you want energy, movement, or a bold edge. Zigzags can make a border feel lively and can turn a quiet space into something much more adventurous.

You'll Find It In

Mountain shapes, lightning, fabric designs, borders, arrows, floor tiles, decorations, flags, and animal markings.

You Can Try

Make tall zigzags, tiny zigzags, double zigzags, coloured zigzags, zigzags inside borders, or zigzags with dots in the corners.

Your Turn

Observe the zigzags, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Waves are made from smooth, curving lines that rise and fall. They feel softer than zigzags because they change direction gently instead of suddenly.

This pattern is useful when you want a design to feel flowing, calm, watery, windy, or full of gentle movement.

You'll Find It In

Water, clouds, wind, hair, ribbons, fabric, shells, sand patterns, borders, and flowing decorations.

You Can Try

Make tall waves, tiny waves, double waves, dotted waves, wave borders, or waves with small circles tucked between them.

Your Turn

Observe the waves, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Spirals are made from lines that curl around themselves. They can feel calm, magical, mysterious, or slightly hypnotic if Biscuit stares at them for too long.

This pattern is useful when you want a drawing to feel like it is turning, growing, unfolding, or gently pulling the eye inward.

You'll Find It In

Shells, vines, galaxies, whirlpools, snails, curls, ferns, clouds, decorative borders, and ancient symbols.

You Can Try

Make tiny spirals, large spirals, double spirals, loose spirals, tight spirals, or spirals with dots, leaves, or stars around them.

Your Turn

Observe the spirals, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

A checkerboard pattern is made from squares that repeat in an alternating way. One square is filled, the next is empty, and the pattern continues like a tiny tiled floor.

This pattern is useful when you want a design to feel structured, balanced, bold, or neatly organised.

You'll Find It In

Chessboards, floor tiles, fabric, flags, picnic blankets, game boards, borders, buildings, and decorative designs.

You Can Try

Use tiny squares, large squares, coloured squares, diagonal checkerboards, shaded squares, or add dots and lines inside some of the boxes.

Your Turn

Observe the checkerboard, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Scales are made from repeated curved shapes that overlap like little arches. They can look like fish scales, feathers, roof tiles, or tiny shields lined up in rows.

This pattern is useful when you want a design to feel layered, natural, protective, or full of small repeated details.

You'll Find It In

Fish, dragons, feathers, shells, roof tiles, pine cones, armour, mosaics, borders, and decorative patterns.

You Can Try

Make tiny scales, large scales, overlapping scales, pointed scales, shaded scales, or add dots and lines inside each curved shape.

Your Turn

Observe the scales, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Petals are made from repeated soft shapes that spread out like little leaves or flower parts. They can feel gentle, natural, decorative, or quietly fancy.

This pattern is useful when you want a design to feel floral, calm, graceful, or full of small beautiful details.

You'll Find It In

Flowers, leaves, mandalas, fabric, wallpaper, garden designs, borders, tiles, decorations, and nature-inspired artwork.

You Can Try

Make round petals, pointed petals, long petals, tiny petals, layered petals, or add dots, veins, and small lines inside each shape.

Your Turn

Observe the petals, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.

The Pattern

Stars are made from repeated pointed shapes. They can feel bright, magical, adventurous, or like something important is about to happen in the sky.

This pattern is useful when you want a design to feel sparkling, cosmic, decorative, or full of tiny moments of excitement.

You'll Find It In

Night skies, flags, decorations, quilts, tiles, wrapping paper, magical illustrations, borders, symbols, and celebration designs.

You Can Try

Make tiny stars, large stars, six-pointed stars, scattered stars, star borders, or add dots, circles, and little sparkle lines around them.

Your Turn

Observe the stars, trace the pattern, then create your own version in the Pattern Toolkit.