Unit 7 · MarchUpcoming

Surface Pattern & Fabric Painting

Design a repeating pattern digitally, then transfer and paint it onto fabric for a finished pillow.

Repeat pattern designFabric paintStencil transferTextile craft

Unit Vocabulary

Repeat Pattern

A design where a motif is duplicated and arranged to tile seamlessly across a surface.

Fabric Paint

Paint formulated to bond with fabric fibers and remain flexible after drying.

Textile

Any woven, knitted, or felted cloth or fabric material.

Stencil Transfer

The process of using a cut template to apply a design onto a surface with paint or ink.

Color Blocking

A design technique using large areas of solid, contrasting colors placed next to each other.

Swatch

A small sample of fabric or paint used to test color and technique before working on the final piece.

Surface Design

The practice of creating patterns and images on fabric or other flat surfaces.

Projects in this unit

Project 1

Digital Road / Stencil

Design a seamless repeating pattern digitally for transfer to fabric.

Objectives

Pattern tiles seamlessly in all directions
Motif is personal and original (not a clip art download)
High-contrast design suitable for stencil cutting
Exported at 12x12 inches at 300dpi for printing

2 materials

4 tips

Project 2

Fabric Swatch Log

Test fabric paint colors and techniques on swatches and document results.

Objectives

Test at least 4 fabric paint colors on swatches
Test at least 2 application techniques
Test 1 color layering combination
Document each test with the color name, technique, and your observations

5 materials

4 tips

Project 3

Traced Canvas Panel

Transfer your pattern onto the canvas panel using your stencil.

Objectives

Design is centered on the canvas panel
All stencil pieces cut cleanly with no ragged edges
Design traced in light pencil — visible but erasable
Stencil positioned and secured before tracing begins

5 materials

4 tips

Project 4Final

Painted Pillow Front

Complete the painted front panel of your decorative pillow.

Objectives

All traced areas painted — no pencil lines visible in the final piece
At least 3 colors used
Paint is heat-set and permanent
No bleeding under stencil edges — clean, crisp lines throughout

5 materials

4 tips

Graphic Design & Branding Sprint

Sustainable Fiber & Weaving