When I was first learning Adobe Illustrator around 2017, I was figuring out what I liked designing and trying different platforms to sell art. I opened a Spoonflower Shop early on when I was learning pattern design, but I did not know much about releasing designing in collections and creating an entire story around my designs. Spoonflower is a print-on-demand fabric company that surface pattern designers can upload their designs and allow customers to purchase from their online shop. They also have home decor items available with the pattern designs.

In the past couple years, especially when I had more time during the COVID-19 pandemic, I started building mini and full pattern collections. I found I love designing in collections by creating a color story surrounding the theme and motifs of the designs. This really helped me have focus with how to organize my illustrations and motifs, and also have more clear direction in my artistic style. I now have over 15 mini and full pattern collections, that are available for art licensing and collaborations. I love flowers and creating designs around what is growing in our garden, and it continues to show though the work I create. I also enjoy creating seasonal pattern collections. I’ll be releasing a seasonal collection soon!

Designing for Fabric and Textile Industry

As I’ve learned more about being a surface pattern designer, the need to build art in collections is important, specifically for fabric and textiles. Understanding the industry you want to break into is key in the design world. Fabric and textiles need pattern collections that have a variety of prints and different colorways. This allows fabric companies to market collections to home sewists who make quilts with entire collections that share a color story. It also allows manufacturers to use different patterns to create a product that is aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes a handbag will have a design on the exterior and then have a different design on the interior that still matches the style and color of the main pattern.

In fabric design, terms such as primary, secondary and blender prints are used to describe the patterns. The primary print is the main pattern. The secondary prints are less detailed than the primary one, but still have motifs that are cohesive to the pattern collection. The blender prints are normally simple patterns including polka dots, stripes, or plaids. All the prints should share a color story. Ideally, I design full collections with 9 patterns in two colorways.

Hydrangea Pattern Collection

I released my entire Hydrangea Pattern Collection on Spoonflower! I am so excited to see my artwork on fabric, a main goal of being a surface pattern designer. Textiles are important in home decor such as throw pillows, quilts, curtains, table linens, and more!

Here is the description of this collection from my Spoonflower Shop: Hydrangea is a a floral rich collection showcasing hydrangeas, a quintessential southern flower. I’ve grown to love hydrangeas as they bloom through the end of spring and beginning of summer. I even love the flowers as they dry on the plant in the fall. This collection is shown in blue hues and periwinkles, and pink hues and fuchsias.

Tablescaping with Hydrangea Pattern Collection

I love the idea of having fabric for home sewing projects to make clothes, or make linens for my table since I love tablescaping now by the season. The great part of a collection is that you can mix and match patterns and have a cohesive design since they use the same colorway and design style. Here are some of the products Spoonflower already has available as table linens to purchase.

Hydrangea Pattern Collection: Periwinkle Colorway

The main colorway for this collection is periwinkles and blues. I love hydrangea blooms. My inspiration came from the beautiful hydrangea flowers we were growing at home and ones we saw at botanic gardens we visited. I love the colors, as there are not a lot of blue flowers.

Here are a couple samples of fabric from the Periwinkle Colorway. Shop the collection here on Spoonflower.

Periwinkle Hydrangeas is the primary print in the Periwinkle Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. There are secondary and blender prints for quilting projects, as well as swatch colors from the collection.

Periwinkle Hydrangeas fabric is available here on Spoonflower.

*Periwinkle Hydrangeas* Spoonflower Fabric

Periwinkle Cut Hydrangeas is a secondary print in the Periwinkle Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. It matches the Periwinkle Hydrangeas pattern showcasing single hydrangea stems in a toss pattern. This pattern is shown in light hues of blue, periwinkle, and shades of green for the foliage.

Periwinkle Cut Hydrangeas fabric is available here on Spoonflower.

*Periwinkle Cut Hydrangeas* Spoonflower Fabric

Hydrangea Pattern Collection: Pink Colorway

I like to add a second colorway when it is feasible, and makes sense for the collection. I love the way the pink turned out for the Hydrangea Pattern Collection!

Here are a couple samples of fabric from the Pink Colorway. Shop the collection here on Spoonflower.

Pink Hydrangeas is the primary print in the Pink Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. There are secondary and blender prints for quilting projects, as well as swatch colors from the collection.

Pink Hydrangeas fabric is available here on Spoonflower.

Pink Hydrangea Vases is a secondary print in the Pink Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. It matches the Pink Hydrangeas pattern showcasing the hydrangea bouquets as beautiful cut flower arrangements in simple vases. This pattern is shown in pink, fuchsia and shades of green for the foliage.

Pink Hydrangea Vases is available here on Spoonflower.

*Pink Hydrangea Vases* Spoonflower Fabric

Blender Prints for the Hydrangea Pattern Collection

The Hydrangea Pattern Collection has several blender print options. I designed prints with foliage that can blend with the both the Periwinkle or Pink Colorways, plaids that match both colorways, and swatches of solid colors.

Hydrangea Foliage Stripes is a blender print showcasing hydrangea leaves with a stripe pattern. Hydrangea Leaves is a pattern showcasing hydrangea leaves in a toss pattern. They are both shown in shades of green for the foliage with a white background.

Periwinkle Plaid is a blender print in the Periwinkle Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. Pink Plaid is a blender print in the Pink Colorway of the Hydrangea Collection. It is a pattern showcasing a hand-drawn plaid pattern. This design is good for accents in sewing projects.

There are 6 swatches to use for the Hydrangea Pattern Collection. The swatches are available here. They include Navy Color Swatch for Periwinkle Hydrangea, Periwinkle Color Swatch for Periwinkle Hydrangea, Fuchsia Color Swatch for Pink Hydrangea, Pink Color Swatch for Pink Hydrangea, Hydrangea Dark Green Color Swatch, and Hydrangea Leaf Green Color Swatch.

Spoonflower Shop

Check out the video below to see swatches of all my designs currently available! More are coming very soon!

Next Pattern Collection Release

My next pattern collection release on Spoonflower is an autumnal, halloween collection with cute ghosts, leaves, and fall candies! I turned my Mini Halloween Pattern Collection from last fall into a full collection called Spooky Sweet to debut on Spoonflower! I’ll be announcing its release soon!

Southerly Design’s Spoonflower Shop: On Reopening A Spoonflower Shop with Pattern Collections