Learn the Secret to Making Perfect Pattern Repeats with Procreate on iPad!

[@Miramakingmagic]

Thank you for being so educational and calm in your speaking voice. I was actually able to watch the video all the way to the end without out looking away! That’s saying ALOT lol I have ADHD 😂🙏💖❤️ Bless! I’ve learned so much from you already and I can’t wait to learn more!! Thank you for being here!

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh yay! I’m so glad. I have a neurodivergent family (including myself) so I get it! 😜

[@melbaldridge4081]

I agree! it was an easy video to understand!

[@vivifieduniverse1032]

Same! At 12 minutes in I was getting antsy! But I stayed!

[@harte708]

I've watched so many of these, and your tutorial is by far the best! Thank you! I have practiced along with it a few times, and I finally feel like I have a good handle on the process!

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh yay! I'm so glad it has been helpful for you. Thanks for watching.

[@dylanusambot]

Yeey! I tried pattern tutorials before and I kinda forgot about it already..and now I watched yours, and I found out yours is a much easier way! Thank you for this

[@alexlabelle3049]

Hands down the most helpful tutorial for this I've watched, thank you so much!

[@MelArmstrong]

Ohhhh...thanks so much!

[@NapatsaranP]

Totally, I have been so confused with other tutorial but this one is excellent ( and short!)

[@aastrom8141]

I so agree with @alexlabelle3049! Thank you so much Mel!

[@43Disciple]

You are so tidy with your layers I appreciate that so much!! I try my best to do the same. This was a massive help for a Hawaiian shirt design I’m doing for a client so THANK YOU!

[@sharondamouni9837]

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. It's quite challenging especially the snapping bit and the different blending mode but I'll get the hang of it. Thank you!

[@lisanashidqina2844]

Lovely tutorial. Just the right pace and such a beautiful pattern to work with.

[@SarahMaxfeldt]

This was such a clear and concise video. No wasted space or me wishing I could fast forward. But also covering enough that it made sense. I've whipped out 3 new patterns since watching yesterday (and I had a stomach bug last night). Thanks for making it so super simple!!🎉

[@MelArmstrong]

Thanks Sarah. I'm so glad it was helpful for you.

[@marypoppins8012]

You’re the best teacher ever! Only because of your video I managed to finally understand and even to make my first pattern. It was really hard to me with all of those functions like layers, flatten, copy, etc. But you perfectly in details explains how to do those things that eventually I finally did it! Thank you!

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh Mary, you just made my day! Thank you for such a lovely comment and I'm so happy you did it. Well done!!

[@felishiarae332]

Thank you so much! I created a cute Christmas themed phone wallpaper using your video. It turned out awesome!

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh yay! That's wonderful!

[@deborahyork6811]

Thank you so much! I’m working on this one. You are a great teacher and super talented surface pattern designer 😊

[@MelArmstrong]

Ohhh thanks so much for you lovely comment. So glad it’s been helpful.

[@solitarymacaroni]

That was really cool! Thanks for making this tutorial and helping to demystify the process!

[@MelArmstrong]

Glad it was helpful!

[@YulRun]

I know this is not what your tutorial is for, but thank you for showing a good way to do this for game art as well! This will help a lot with doing tilework.

[@MelArmstrong]

Awesome, that's great to know!

[@uu-qm8hx]

I don't understand English But you made this very easy to understand. Thank you!!

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh that’s great! So glad it was helpful.

[@konstantinakalafati3088]

Thanks for the tutorial! I have a question: Why each sketch (strawberries, flowers etc.) has to be in its own layer and not every one of them in the same layer?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful. There is no reason why I separate the sketch elements out, possibly as it makes it easier to move them around if required. It's just the way I do it. 😀 You can put the sketch all on one layer if that suits you better. It really doesn't matter.

[@mimosasamosa]

Adding each element on a new layer also helps to change hues if needed. That way you don't have to draw again and can get the same pattern in a new colour key.

[@sarrahal-barry1522]

10:30 this is where making the design a pattern starts

[@robertcarrillo8848]

This is a Great video! Some parts went a little quick but that’s the beauty of videos you can rewind and rewatch.

[@Thewild_trails]

Thank you so easy to follow along and practice the steps that bring it together

[@VivienReis]

Thank you!! I did this in Photoshop and it worked like a charm. Great tutorial!

[@geriannericson]

Thank you! This was so educational, easy to follow and fun!!

[@MelArmstrong]

Wonderful! I'm so glad it was useful

[@cassiablack_educacaofinanceira]

Fun to watch, thank you so much! I learned a lot ❤

[@nichadaye1007]

Thank you. It was very interesting to learn another way to do a repeating pattern.

[@MelArmstrong]

Glad it was helpful!

[@janetmannsdesign]

This is my first repeat pattern on Procreate, even though I learned it on Adobe Illustrator with Bonnie Christine. Designing has become easier. Thank you.

[@leannehodgson248]

Wow! I've watched several tutorials on creating seamless patterns and this was definitely the best! I'd been really struggling, and you're video has given me the light bulb moment. Finally, it all makes sense 😂 Thank you!

[@MelArmstrong]

@@leannehodgson248 oh yay! I’m so glad it was useful.

[@unallamaa]

Thanks for the video! I used to love making patterns on animal crossing and don’t have it anymore, I wanted to see if I could maybe do it on procreate and thanks to your video I can!

[@suburbansunshine]

I tried this a while ago and couldn't get it to work. Opened it again today, realized what my issue was, and so I was able to complete it successfully. So exciting! Thank you!! :)

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh Yay! So glad it worked for you!

[@LittlePinn]

Thank you so much, you are the best teacher because I can understand easily.

[@MelArmstrong]

Ohhh thank you for watching! I’m so glad it was helpful.

[@shakthis4467]

Thanksss a lot!!! Its was sooper easy to achieve seamless with your technique.❣️

[@MelArmstrong]

So glad it helped!

[@daniroste9716]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Everyone told me that is impossible to do pattern in Procreate. Thank you!

[@MelArmstrong]

So glad it was helpful for you! Thanks for watching!

[@daniroste9716]

@@MelArmstrong 🥰

[@ArmaniIntoParanormal]

✨ This is so cute and very aesthetic it would look so pretty on fabric too ✨💖

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@EmilyJones-iz3si]

Hi there, when I press 'select' to start creating the pattern the select tool just selects the drawings I just created, it doesn't select the entire canvas? D you know how I can correct this? Thank you!

[@MelArmstrong]

Just check you've got a background the fills the whole canvas. Otherwise, you can create a new layer and just mark the corners so that when you select the group, the whole canvas is selected. You can remove that layer once you've moved it.

[@EmilyJones-iz3si]

Ok I figured out that if I add two tiny little marks at the corners of the canvas, so bottom left and top right. The select tool recognises the whole canvas and selects it all, not just the drawing in the middle. Just in case this issue crops up for anyone else. Thanks again Mel for the tutorial x

[@mrspanqueques01]

THANK YOUUUUU 👀✨ I WAS HAVING THAT PROBLEM

[@bec8922]

Love it!

[@kiraelbeyli1067]

This was extremely well done and so helpful. Thank you!

[@MelArmstrong]

I'm so happy it was helpful for you.

[@brookespater5045]

Great lesson- but has something changed with newer iPads? I cannot click on the Group and then select to start arranging the pattern. Instead, I get a message that says: Group Selected. You currently have a group selected. Would you like to open layers? So I do not know how to proceed. Any workarounds?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thanks for watching. If you’re trying to arrange motifs, you need to have the layer selected that the motifs are on. You’ll get this message if you have a group selected. Hope that answers your question.

[@heysarahemily]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you so much!! ❤ I feel comfortable with procreate now too

[@MelArmstrong]

Oh that’s awesome! So glad it was useful!

[@elenacavion30]

Mel, you are a guarantee. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@MelArmstrong]

You are so welcome

[@taralojko4992]

Thank you for the tutorial. It was great. One question, what color profile do you use for your patterns? Thank you.

[@MelArmstrong]

So glad the tutorial was helpful. I use sRGB IEC61966-2.1, but I also think Display P3 is fine.

[@theom3452]

what do u do with the fine spaces u see after u start moving the final drawing around in order to create pattern?

[@traceycampbell629]

Hi Mel. Thank you for your video. I have a problem when it come to matching the pattern? I noticed when you move your drawing it has two lines, mine only has one and just reduces my drawing? What I’m I doing wrong?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thanks for watching. It does take a bit of practice to get it right. Make sure you have snapping and magnetics on and that Distance and Velocity are at the max.

[@smarinay]

Amazing tutorial, thank you so much for sharing!

[@MelArmstrong]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@cheezwiz7010]

I just came across this tutorial as I'm trying to learn surface pattern design (both in procreate and Adobe Illustrator, and this is one of the most helpful and easy to follow things I've come across in my travels. Thank you for sharing your expertise in such a clear manner!

[@MelArmstrong]

I’m so glad it’s been helpful. Thank you for watching!! 🥰

[@TootlesTart]

Thank you for doing this. I needed exactly this tutorial.

[@MelArmstrong]

So glad it was helpful for you! Thank you for watching!

[@SashaFromOperations]

Hello! What do you do if you get to the very end and it's slightly off? Is there any way to fix it without undoing all the work you just did, like adjusting it somehow?

[@ayozlm]

Thanks a lot for this educative video 😌🤗

[@ridhisingh6678]

Hi Mel! Thanks for such an awesome KZbin page. I've learned a lot from it. I have a question: the procreate tutorials suggest 300dpi... However ...Spoonflower wants 150dpi. Will is affect the design if dpi is higher than required? I'm worried I will lose existing designs which have 300dpi ... Please help

[@MelArmstrong]

Spoonflower will automatically adjust it to 150 dpi when you upload it. It won't affect it at all. I create in 300 dpi, as I find it's the best for when I'm licensing designs to companies.

[@gabriellepriceco]

Thank you for sharing such a helpful tutorial!!

[@MelArmstrong]

I'm so glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@olga__lein9347]

thank you!

[@ellek8689]

Any hints for placing the first three strawberries? with several tries, I keep having to much space in the center when I do the step of sliding a layer to the left and a duplicate layer to the right. My struggles aside, thank you for showing such clear steps and sharing the brushes and settings. Most other tutorials go so fast or withhold a few essential secrets making them hard to follow.

[@ellenodonohue4511]

Your explanations are so helpful!!

[@MelArmstrong]

thank you!

[@kendrachase344]

How would I know what size pallette to choose for creating a tea towel pattern?

[@renatahabberfield230]

Hi! I loved this tutorial, thank you! I found it super helpful :)… I’m just wondering if you draw/colour your images using a RGB palette or CMYK. Thanks in advance!!!

[@threemusketeers4109]

This is so helpful! Thank you.

[@MelArmstrong]

I'm so glad it helped you! Thanks for watching!

[@ebbaeriksson8650]

Thanks for the brilliant tutorials! I get this message when I swipe down with three fingers: "no layer is selected", what can be the issue? And maybe my procreate is older but it doesn't have the option "copy all"?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you. Just double check that you’re on a layer and not a group layer. That message will pop up if on a group layer. Also if you don’t see the copy all, you can copy the entire canvas by going to actions -> add -> then select copy canvas. Hope that helps.

[@ebbaeriksson8650]

@@MelArmstrong Thank you that worked, all the best!

[@jodib4445]

Thanks for this video! It's very helpful and you're a great teacher.. I don't have an iPad or Procreate yet, but I wonder ... Can those panels (for layers, etc) be moved to the left side, for left-handed artists?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you for watching. The left-hand panel can be moved to the right-hand side (this panel allows you to change the size of the brush and opacity). The top menus, which on the left are tools and on the right are the colour palettes, brushes, etc, which cannot be moved.

[@jodib4445]

@@MelArmstrong Thanks so much. Best wishes to you x

[@jodib4445]

@@MelArmstrong Thank you! xo

[@thePeziie]

Thank you so much! Very easy to understand :)

[@MelArmstrong]

Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@pathao9719]

Can you turn off the symmetry feature off and on while moving the pattern or symbol around?

[@mele2814]

Really lovely video!! ❤️🙏🍓 Thank you!

[@ericwon9910]

amazing tutorial，thank you！

[@mcgmenezess]

Ok! I need to try again... mine didn't not repeated seamlessly

[@MelArmstrong]

I don’t always get it first go. It takes a bit of practice to get it snap correctly into place. Keep going! You’ll get there!

[@mixmedia9004]

Love your tutorials and channel ❤

[@MelArmstrong]

Ohhhh thank you!

[@heatherlaing3547]

Thank you so much. My question is if you plan on selling your seamless. Which file do you upload? The smaller scale or larger scale?

[@MelArmstrong]

@@heatherlaing3547 it really depends on where you’re selling it and on what product. For POD such as Spoonflower I often upload multiple scales to cover both fabric and wallpaper.

[@nawelavenu]

Hello, how do you change the size of your pattern without loosing quality? When I change even the direction of my drawing it gets pixeled

[@MelArmstrong]

The least amount of movements the better. Also make sure Interpolation is set to Bicubic. That will reduce the pixelation.

[@tammychertam1258]

Thank you so much!!!! so cute

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you!

[@Brisingrize]

Brilliant tutorial, my only thing is when I select a group, it wants me to flatten it.

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you. Just check that you're using the selection tool (sloping S) not the transform tool (arrow)

[@Mylegacymap]

You lost me at the end with the layers and how to group or in group them. I need a better understanding of how to designate the layers as I’m drawing the design so when I get to this point I can follow better. Going g to look for a lesson on that. This was so helpful, thank you!

[@mellyafiana]

Very helpful! Thank you🎉

[@sahathaisanmee2770]

I am very love it !!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@anassameanspleasure]

This was so useful! ❤

[@MelArmstrong]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!

[@emmeliz]

Hello! Great video thank you - what colour profile are you using please on the canvas? Many thanks

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you! I use the colour profile sRGB IEC61966-2.1

[@melanieklarofficial]

Mine keeps not lining upwhen I tile them together

[@mamita.design]

thank you so much ❤

[@MelArmstrong]

You're welcome 😊

[@maam-vt1uo]

Thank you so so much ❤❤❤❤it was great ❤❤❤❤

[@MelArmstrong]

You're welcome 😊

[@miral9595]

Which i pad is best for this

[@MelArmstrong]

IPad Pro is the best!

[@aine4400]

Mel - this was a really great tutorial :) thank you so much How do you test if the completed tile has the dreaded white line ? thank you

[@MMX67]

Excellent, Thanks

[@MelArmstrong]

You're welcome!

[@mmarikawis]

i have watched some other pattern tutorials and yours was easier to follow. i have one question though. when i tried if the pattern is ok at the end of the tutorial, in some of the parts of the pattern (where the parts meet) i have a white lines appearing, but not on the whole of the pattern. do you know what might be the issue here?

[@MelArmstrong]

Thank you! Yes, this is a common problem. It just means it wasn't aligned correctly. This can take a bit of practice. Just make sure you don't delete the original layers so you can go back and give it another go. Also make sure the snapping is turned on and at it's max along with velocity.

[@mmarikawis]

I will give it another try for sure! the pattern is very pretty and relaxing to create ❤

[@mmarikawis]

i can confirm, that was the issue! tried it again and payed attention to move the pattern correct and it worked. thank you very much for your help and video!

[@lyndadiamond564]

Hi Great Video but I am getting lost when you are grouping the different layers together. You are doing it soooo fast that I am not seeing exactly what you are doing. Thanks, Procreate newbie!

[@MelArmstrong]

awww thanks for watching. I'm sorry I'm going too fast. I try to include every step and make it as clear as possible. You could try slowing down the speed down of the video, although my voice will go a bit weird!! I've also got lots of classes on Skillshare that go into more detail. You can use this link to get a free month: www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/melarmstrong?gr_tch_ref=on&gr_trp=on

[@sewlouisa]

You can slow down the speed of the video which might help.

[@peaceluvagstudios]

I was just going to comment the same thing at moment 11:30. I was great up until then but cannot see the other layers as it only shows me the halves. I tried to search this question but no luck. Any thoughts? I also did slow it down but mine is not showing me any of the former layers when I click the drop down arrow. I so badly want to finish the tutorial.

[@rosedemello9945]

Yes, I too got lost at grouping of the layers. Up until then I was able to keep up.

[@Unukadesign]

She basically made it easier to move all the elements around more freely by combining all the same motifs onto one layer each that were of the same kind. Eg, flowers from group 1 was combined with flowers in group 2. She then flattened those flowers so they were now on one single layer instead of 2 seperate layers. Leaves from group one was combined with leaves in group 2 and then she flattened them so all the leaves were also on their own singular layer and etc Hope that helps.

[@jenniferlabre]

Thanks Mel! Do you find art directors accept procreate files without issue?

[@MelArmstrong]

I always take it into Photoshop and send a jpg or PSD. I probably wouldn't send procreate files.

[@evaemerald5801]

Thank you for this tutorial. Can you tell how to deal with the quality loss that happen every time an element of a pattern is moved, resized or rotated? No matter what extrapolation method is used. I found that Photoshop is much smarter in this case and doesn’t steal quality of illustrations.

[@MelArmstrong]

Ahhh...yes, I agree with you! I really hope that future upgrades to Procreate this issue is addressed. My only advice is to avoid moving or rescaling as much as possible and if you have to ensure Bicubic Interpolation is turned on. I actually prefer Photoshop for most of my patterns. I'll only do simple ones in Procreate.

[@yoru9741]

Aaaaa thank you so much i did it 🤣

[@nataliecalzadilla]

Hi, thank you for that tutorial. When doing licensing do have to vectorize all your patterns made in Procreate?

[@MelArmstrong]

Hi Natalie, I tend to take them into Photoshop. I've only got a couple of clients that require vector files, and in that case I do all the design in Illustrator. Otherwise, I use Procreate and Photoshop.

[@nataliecalzadilla]

@@MelArmstrong thank you 😊

[@foridabegumukblogger]

Where you sell this pattern?

[@christinhebron4184]

Is the flatten version the final one that you put on your sell sheet and POD website? Also, do designers normally create a large scale and small scale version?

[@MelArmstrong]

Yes, absolutely. If I was to upload to Spoonflower I'd export as a jpg then upload both the large scale and small scale versions.

[@christinhebron4184]

@@MelArmstrong do you also keep a duplicate of the layers after flattening in case you want to make changes?

[@MelArmstrong]

@@christinhebron4184 Yes, I always keep the original layers. 🙂

[@GroovyGal]

Hello! That is amazing, thank you. Your art is beautiful! Can you please let me know (or anyone else who knows) Which iPad is being used here? (and how much memory recommended?)... thank you so much!

[@MelArmstrong]

Thanks Lisa! It’s an iPad Pro 12.9 inch. All the details are in the description for you. Thanks for watching!

[@ttyy-k7j]

Hello Ms How can I reach out to you for services?

[@MelArmstrong]

If you head to my website you can use my contact form here: www.melarmstrong.com/contact

[@stacyjacobson4249]

I love this! However I get lost around the 11 minute mark with all the grouping.

[@aastrom8141]

you lost me at some pont. So many layers without names is confusing. And at some point you forgot to say what you did and I will just try agin and again😉 Rewind is the solution.

[@jackieb2853]

you put the pro in procreate!

[@leahstilla3243]

Got to minute 15 and gave up, I got the snapping understood but once you started with the grouping of layers again I was overwhelmed and it felt too hard to follow for me rn even with pausing. Maybe naming your layers would help us follow along. I’m gonna search for a more beginner friendly one then try to come back and finish this one!

[@perrichan]

this didn't work for me. The double orange lines don't show up so my pattern is way off when I combine the images together at the end. And yes snapping is on and turned to max.

[@ekaterinalinnik8406]

Lovely tutorial but needs a bit more details with the layering and groups, had to watch on 0.75 speed multiple times

[@เอื้อยน้องกินแซ่บ]

👍👍👍

[@HamiltonIsLife]

10:29

[@evelynS.]

👌👏❤️

[@book2320]

When drawing the pattern, the shapes become uneven and incomplete.

[@CaliberDawn]

My adhd can’t keep up with all the layers and grouping 😭

[@Zoolar]

Great, thank you., 2025

[@merryb3514]

🥰🥰🥰

[@ZirconStar]

I hope you take this a constructive criticism, but I am not a complete newbie to Procreate but I am still learning. I tried two times to ffollow but got so confused I was never successful. The layers and the perfecting of your design got me behind and even though I was constantly pausing to catch up it was just a jumble for me.

[@MelArmstrong]

@@ZirconStar this is probably one of my more complicated tutorials. You might find one of my others to be easier and better to start with before trying this method, which is for more complicated patterns.

[@ZirconStar]

@@MelArmstrong Thanks I did subscribe but could you suggest a video of yours to start with? Thanks

[@amkmammu9705]

Which part are you getting confused with ?

[@ZirconStar]

@@amkmammu9705 mostly where you were going in and making the little changes. I also think my version of Procreate is older? When you took the layers of each element like the leaves and grouped them I have a new group with all the ones of that group listed below that and it gets in my way. It is kind of hard to explain.