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the 11 Most COMMON REPEAT Patterns

This guide will introduce eleven of the most common repeat patterns. These 11 repeat systems are the actual building blocks of surface pattern design. Establishing a repeat system is one of the essential steps in the pattern designing process.

A repeat (also called a block repeat or tile) is the design element you replicate to create a seamless pattern when you repeat the tile over and over again to fill yards of fabric or paper.

Not all patterns work the same. A surface pattern designer needs to know which design system is best suited for each project to be used to its fullest extent. Explore and experiment with the various arrangements to spark new and exciting ideas. You can change the look of a design just by changing the repeat system.


Full Drop Pattern Repeat (Block RePeat / Straight Repeat)

As one of the most commonly used repeat systems, this is a great place to start if you are new to creating seamless pattern designs. It's also the easiest to execute. Simple motifs and geometric elements work best with this system.

In a full drop repeat pattern, the motif tile is duplicated along horizontal and vertical planes in a basic grid format, like floor tiles.


Square Repeat

  • The repeat pattern tile forms a perfect square.
  • The simplest of all pattern repeats to create. 

Rectangle Repeat

  • The repeat pattern tile forms a rectangle.
  • A horizontal or vertical rectangle is acceptable.
Diagram of a full drop repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

HALF Drop Pattern Repeat

Another commonly used repeat system is the half drop. Half drop repeats are great for concealing where one repeat ends and the next one begins, breaking up the uniform look that a full drop often presents. 

With this staggering repeat, you would stack the motif tile in a vertical column, which is then offset (by half the size of the original tile) in the following vertical column.


Diagram of a half drop repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

examples

Dog paw with heart is the motif used for this half drop repeat pattern.

brick PATTERN Repeat

Brick repeats are like half drop repeats; instead of stacking the tile in a vertical column, it is aligned horizontally in a row. The row is then offset (by half the size of the original tile) in the next horizontal row, resembling a brick wall.


Diagram of a brick repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

TOSSED / RANDOM PATTERN Repeat

This standard repeat system is prevalent for floral repeating patterns. Imagine tossing a handful of flowers up into the air. When they fall back to the ground, they become scattered. The flowers face in all directions, creating an organic and non-linear arrangement. Placing the design motifs randomly within the tile will form this type of repeat.


Diagram of a tossed repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile area. Scattered flowers and leaves were used as the design elements.

Examples

A variety of bugs and leaves make up this tossed repeat pattern.
Large blue and green moths are the motifs used for this tossed repeat pattern.
Navy blue background with blue and green flowers make up this tossed repeat pattern.

Diamond PATTERN Repeat

This interlocking pattern is simply a repeating diamond shape, resulting in diagonal rows of elements.


Diagram of a diamond repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

Dark blue diamond shaped florals on a white background make up this diamond repeat pattern.

Ogee PATTERN Repeat

Ogee repeats are similar to diamond repeats - except an ogee is more rounded in the middle while squeezed together at the top and bottom, much like an onion. Its traditional shape usually results in an evenly balanced pattern design, with slight diagonal movement in each direction.


Diagram of an ogee repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile shape and positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

stripe PATTERN Repeat

A Stripe repeat pattern occurs when the motifs or colors repeat in long narrow columns or rows. Diagonal, vertical, or horizontal repeat formats are prevalent in just about every market.


Diagram of a stripe repeat system. A floral motif was used as the design element and stacked in linear rows.

examples

scale PATTERN Repeat

In a scale repeat, the motifs are tightly lined up, then repeated as a half drop, so the motifs peek out from the row beneath it.


Diagram of a scale repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile shape and positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

mirror (full drop) PATTERN Repeat

A full drop mirror repeat is created by duplicating and reflecting the original motif vertically. The two motif tiles now form one larger repeat tile, which you then treat as a full drop repeat.


Diagram of a full drop mirror repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

mirror (half drop) PATTERN Repeat

To create a half drop mirror repeat, stack the motif tile in a vertical column, duplicate and reflect in the following vertical column. You would then offset the second column by half the size of the original motif tile.


Diagram of a half drop repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

4-Way Mirror (Turn-Over) PATTERN Repeat

A 4-way mirror repeat is created by duplicating and reflecting the original motif horizontally and then duplicating and reflecting both vertically. The four motif tiles now form one larger repeat tile, which you then treat as a full drop repeat.


Diagram of a 4-way mirror repeat system using dashed lines to indicate tile positioning. A floral motif was used as the design element.

Examples

PRO TIP - CREATE a Continuous Repeat

There are many challenges to designing fabric, but creating seamless repeat patterns can be quite a task. Once we understand how the process works, it becomes quite a simple task.

It's all about the edges.

To make your pattern appear seamless and undetectable, think about the edges.

To ensure the pattern repeats seamlessly, make sure that the top edge of your fabric matches up with the bottom edge. And make sure that the left side of your fabric matches up with the right side of the fabric.

That's all there is to remember.

Creating continuous repeats can be accomplished through various methods, the easiest of which is to have nothing on the edges. If there's nothing on the edges, then your pattern is guaranteed to repeat seamlessly. However, the space between the tiles can create visible horizontal and vertical lines. Sometimes a half drop repeat or half-brick repeat can fix this.


Let's take it up a notch.

Overlap a motif on one edge of the tile, make a copy, and put it in the same position on the other side of a tile. Do this horizontally and vertically until you fill in all the empty spaces.


Now it's time for you to give it a try! Get familiar with the process, and you'll soon be on your way to designing repeat patterns that are both seamless and undetectable!


For more pattern design ideas, see our favorite Instagram designers here .