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pattern

What is surface pattern design?

June 14, 2019

After being profiled by Uppercase Magazine last month for their Surface Pattern Design issue, it’s been great to connect with people from all over the world who have a love of repeat patterns!

You might be wondering, what is surface pattern design, anyway? As my creative work has expanded beyond my own product collection for Cotton & Flax, I’ve been working more as a freelance surface pattern designer. I use the term surface design from time to time, forgetting that it’s “insider” terminology.

Surface Pattern Defined

Surface pattern design is artwork that I create specifically to be applied as surface decoration. This could include patterns, illustrations, hand-lettering, and artwork in all sorts of styles, as long as they’re made to enhance the appearance or functionality of a product. For me, this usually means a two-color minimalist pattern design, but the style options for pattern design are endless.

I usually design patterns for use on fabrics — this is why I call myself a textile designer and a surface pattern designer interchangeably. My patterned home decor products, as well as the fabric yardage collections I create for Robert Kaufman Fabrics are all examples of my surface pattern design work. Surface pattern designers also create artwork for use on stationery, apparel, book covers, and gift items. In fact, I’d argue that murals are also a form of surface pattern design!

My creative career covers a lot of ground: business owner, artist, teacher, textile designer, and surface pattern designer. Having my creative work highlighted by Uppercase Magazine made me realize that I haven’t talked much about my transition to focusing on surface pattern design for select collaborations. I’m hoping to share more of my experience as a freelance designer here, especially with more partnerships in the works for 2020!

In the meantime: see more of my pattern making process, and explore my roundup of contemporary fabric designers!

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes Tagged With: fabric design, fabric designers, pattern

Erin in Uppercase Magazine

May 13, 2019

Have you checked out Uppercase Magazine‘s latest issue? It’s their surface pattern design guide, and between 100+ pages of pattern inspiration, you’ll find a little profile on me and my retail shop in San Diego!

As a long-time fan and subscriber of Uppercase, I am thrilled to be featured among so many talented designers and artists. If you love pattern as much as I do, pick up a copy of issue 41 while you can!

Erin Dollar in Uppercase Magazine's surface pattern design guide

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Print and Pattern Tagged With: pattern, press

Fabric Designers – Names to Know

March 15, 2018

Carolyn Friedlander - Carkai fabric swatchesThe fabric industry can feel a little opaque sometimes. I get lots of emails from textile design students who are looking for advice, and I totally relate to that thirst for knowledge. There’s tons of info out there about talented fabric designers, but if you don’t know any famous textile designers’ names, it can be tough to know where to start.

I put together a list of my favorite contemporary textile designers, so that an artist interested in becoming a textile designer, or looking to learn how to become a fabric designer will find some inspiration. While some of these fabric designers’ names might not be the most recognizable in the textile industry, they’re certainly up-and-coming designers to watch out for. The textile designers’ websites are linked, so you can check out more of their work, and get inspired to sew!…

Read More

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Arroyo Fabric, fabric, fabric design, fabric designers, linen, pattern, quilts, sewing

Stenciling on Fabric with The Crafter’s Box

June 13, 2017

Hand printed linen throw blanket - DIY via The Crafter's Box

This month, I’m thrilled to be partnering with The Crafter’s Box, to bring you another fun workshop: Stenciled Linen Throw Blankets! This is my second time collaborating with The Crafter’s Box for an online workshop, and I still love their format: you receive a box of high-quality craft materials in the mail, and log-in to enjoy the online workshop at your own pace. If you’ve been curious about stenciling on fabric, or creating your own large-scale designs on fabric, this is the workshop for you!

Hand printed linen throw blanketPatterned throw blanket - DIY via The Crafter's BoxThe Crafter’s Box is different than a lot of other creative workshops out there. They focus on workshops led by experts, who guide you through every step of a creative project, and provide live feedback during a monthly maker chat in their forums. The materials they send for each project are always beautiful — this month, we’ll be sending a gorgeous flax linen throw, which will look beautiful with the vibrant cobalt blue and black inks we’re including for the project. It can be used as a blanket, or a tablecloth for all your summer adventures!

Patterned linen tablecloth - DIY via The Crafter's BoxI hope you’ll join me for this workshop! You can sign up from today through June 20th — after that, enrollment closes, so they can pack up your boxes, and get them delivered in July. It’s a short sign-up window, so don’t delay. I can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

http://blog.cottonandflax.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Erin-Instagram.mp4

Filed Under: Collaborations, DIY Tagged With: collaboration, diy, home decor, pattern, printing, printmaking, The Crafter's Box, workshop

Using Up the Scraps, Part 2 – Mini Quilt Collab

March 15, 2017

Modern mini quilts - Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxI’ve talked about my commitment to running a environmentally-friendly studio in the past, and I’ve continued to look for ways to improve my no-waste approach to production for Cotton & Flax. I’ve been lucky to find some amazing partners in that effort, including my newest collaborator: Caitlin Topham from Salty Oat!

Modern quilting - Collaboration quilts from Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxCaitlin has been creating beautiful wall quilts from Cotton & Flax scraps, and I absolutely love the results. She does a great job of finding the perfect project for even the smallest scraps that I send her.

Modern mini quilts - Collaboration quilts from Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxI love seeing a new piece of art come to life using fabric that would have otherwise been wasted, and her beautiful approach to modern quilting has led to some gorgeous pieces that I’d be proud to display in my home.

Check out the available quilts from our collaboration, and visit the Salty Oat shop to learn more about Caitlin’s work.

Filed Under: Collaborations, Interior Design Tagged With: collaboration, fabric, home decor, no waste studio, pattern, quilts, sewing

Best Home Decor Books of 2016

March 9, 2017

Simple Matters by Erin BoyleI was hoping to share my favorite home decor books from 2016 before the end of the year… but better late than never! These books are just as relevant as ever, and I think you’ll find lots of great decorating tips and interior design inspiration in each of these picks.

Living with Pattern by Rebecca Atwood

Living with Pattern: Color, Texture, and Print at Home by Rebecca Atwood

I love Rebecca Atwood’s painterly prints, and this book was a lovely peek into both her life as a textile designer, as well as a handbook for adding pattern to your home with style and flair. The watercolor illustrations totally charmed me, and I relished seeing photos of her studio and pattern making process.

The real-world examples of homes brimming with pattern were beautiful, and I loved the way she broke down how to decorate with pattern, while still maintaining balance and keeping a room from looking too busy. The DIY projects felt advanced, like upholstery projects and dying fabrics, but I still felt confident that they were achievable — It’s nice change to feel challenged by projects like this, rather than underwhelmed.

Simple Matters by Erin Boyle

Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending Up with More by Erin Boyle

I pre-ordered this book back in January, because I’ve been a fan of Erin’s blog, Reading My Tea Leaves for quite a while. Her perspective on living minimally, and making thoughtful choices about everything you keep in your home is so valuable. The book is divided into nine chapters, and my favorites were the sections on decluttering, simplifying, and decorating.

Erin’s personal insights on small-space living and conscious consumption were really compelling. We agree that it’s important to adopt sustainable approaches to living, and that those efforts are beneficial to both the environment and our own well being. Her thesis is a powerful one: that “living small” is beneficial and accessible to us all—whether we’re renting a tiny apartment or purchasing a three-story house.

The Finer Things by Christiane Lemieux

The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details by Christiane Lemieux

This lovely gilded tome is a comprehensive guide to selecting heirloom-quality pieces for your home — the unique, and well made items that imbue enduring style into your home. This desk-worthy reference helps you select, install, and style high-quality  decorative elements in your home, from wallpaper, art frames and floors to furniture, fabrics, light fixtures and more.

The World of Charles and Ray Eames

The World of Charles and Ray Eames edited by Catherine Ince

The more I learn about the Eames’ influence on the world of design, the more I realize the impact they still have on the design world have today. I’m particularly drawn to Ray Eames’ textile designs, and this impressive archive of their work was fun to pore over. The book contains handwritten notes, sketches, and snapshots, as well as beautiful photos of those modern interiors and furniture that we know and love.

The Best New Home Decor Books - Cotton & Flax

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes Tagged With: books, home decor, interior design, pattern, round up

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A textile designer’s journal

Welcome! I'm Erin Dollar, the textile designer behind Cotton & Flax. I create patterned home decor that's rooted in creative exploration.

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A textile designer’s journal

Welcome! I'm Erin Dollar, the textile designer behind Cotton & Flax. Here I'll share peeks behind the scenes, recent inspirations, decor ideas, and more. Read More…

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