Canva Pattern Design Templates!

Am I the last person on earth to dip my toe in the magical layout world that is Canva? I wouldn't be surprised as I didn't own a cell phone until 2002!

As a book designer, I wasn't all that interested in Canva as I like to have a lot of control over what goes on on my pages...I mean, a LOT. So I've happily lived in my InDesign bubble over the years, styling and formatting my way to printed-book-bliss.

Over the past few years I’ve worked with individual pattern designers who own a Creative Cloud subscription and use Illustrator and Photoshop and thought, “Hey, what’s this InDesign…I should give it a shot since I am paying for it!”. So I worked up some InDesign templates for you all to use, to style and design your very own patterns! To me, that sounds like fun! But Nissa sat me down for a come to Jesus moment: People want fast and simple. Not everyone thinks setting type and putzing with fonts is fun like you do. Learn Canva, Kristy.

Got it.

Whoa, you guys! I spent some time digging around Canva and it’s fantastic! What a great way to create a cohesive, fluid branding presence. It’s all drag and drop, there are stock images you can use for free and tons of free fonts at your disposal! There are a ton of templates you can choose from, too. Best part? You can use it for free!

Only thing was, I didn’t see much by way of a template that would support a pattern layout. You need numbered lists, multi-level heads, a chart option, front/back cover options with spaces for a barcode and a large image and a materials list. Seems like using some of the templates they offer on the site would be fairly clunky for a pattern designer…so I created one with you all in mind!

This is just the first of many templates that I have planned. I call it Minimal, because that’s what it is! There are a few simple design choices included but the images of your pattern will make this design shine. I’ve used a simple, readable, clean sans serif font and leave white space in the layout for a modern look.

There are 5.5” x 8.5” and an 8.5” x 11” options as those are the two most common pattern sizes and are easiest to print.

With 23 different page designs including tables, bulleted lists, numbered lists and various ways to layout images, there is a ton of flexibility and lots of room for customization. All you need is a Canva* and Acrobat Reader account (to open the Page + Pixel template) and you’ll never start a layout with a blank slate again!

Keep checking back in as I will be adding more design styles. Is there something I’m missing? Please let me know! I’m eager to make something that you can all use to make your pattern-selling lives easier.

Happy designing!

+ Kristy

*Note: The download from our site is not affiliated with Canva. If you have any questions or concerns about the template, please contact us at info@pageandpixel.net

PROMPT: Silhouette

Like all times of struggle, creativity finds its way to the surface and helps us to see the beauty amongst the turmoil. A few weeks ago, the Bay Area experienced what will always be remembered as the “orange apocalyptic sky”. Time stood still as street lights remained lit throughout the morning and afternoon hours. Birds were silent. The sky appeared to be on fire. And people like me—fascinated and distracted—timidly ventured outside, able to breathe for the first time in weeks as our marine layer protected us from the smoke above.

I took my camera with me on a meandering walk through my neighborhood and saw this place that I’ve lived in for nearly 18 years through a completely different lens. As I walked I looked up most of the time, taken by the sky. My eyes had a difficult time adjusting to the shift in color and all I really saw was the sky and the shapes that were in front of it. I had walked past these trees and plants hundreds of times, never noticing them in this way before. The silhouettes that they created against the sky were so beautiful and delicate—and to think they have been there all this time and it took this incredible occurance to slow me down enough to see.

Prompt: Silhouette

Silhouettes are created by the relationship of positive and negative space. High and low contrast. Line and mass.

Where can you see silhouettes in your everyday? I hope you find some, doing so feels beautiful and poetic.

+Kristy

PROMPT: Contrast

Creativity can be sparked by boundaries - thinking INSIDE a box - because it forces you to see and use what is available. Kristy and I are big believers in this method of jumpstarting our creative minds.

That’s why we’ve launched a new creative exercise called PROMPT.
Every 2 weeks, we will choose a word or phrase and use it to inspire art - whether it’s photographs, paintings, quilts, dance, poetry…anything used to create. This is a practice in process - it isn’t about perfection, but rather, about inspiration. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US in this exercise!

CURRENT PROMPT: CONTRAST
Below, I’m sharing a few of my most favorite contributions to this project from those who chose to join us so far for this round. We LOVE seeing your work! If you’d like to share something, please post your work with the hashtag #ppprompt on Instagram or Facebook.

We will announce the next PROMPT on Wednesday, May 20th - so follow us to if you’d like to make art with us!

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Artist: NISSA BREHMER
Title: CONTRAST

Artist: NANCY PURVIS
Title: CONTRAST

Artist: KENDRA VERNON
Title: CONTRAST

Artist: CARLA KLINKER COPE
Title: EVERYTHING IN RELATION

Artist: FREESIA PEARSON-BLIZARD
Title: UNFILTERED: IN/OUT

Artist: SUKI ZELLGERT
Title: NEW BIRTH OF LEAVES

COVER STUDY // Composing Your Image

A cover shot is more than just a pretty image, it contributes to the number one marketing tool for your product: The Cover. Yeah, I capitalized cover, it’s THAT important. In fact, I already did a post on the importance of a well-thought out cover a few months ago, you can read more about it here.

Here’s something to consider when you are getting ready to shoot an image for your next pattern or book cover: What about the type?

How long is the title? Is there a subtitle? A logo? Project dimensions? Author name? If you said ‘yes’ to any of these, then you’ve got some thinking to do BEFORE you even pick up your camera.

As a graphic designer, there is nothing more luxurious than receiving an image that has been composed with type in mind. That means that the photographer wasn’t thinking only about the light/model/focus/subject, it means they also considered the use of the photo.

Here’s an example: Nissa and I shot images for Latifah Saafir’s line of patterns for kids, Quilt Cadets. The covers contain quite a bit of branding and project info which includes 6-7 different graphic elements on the 5.5” x 8.5” cover.

While the image on the left looks more polished as a stand-alone photo (composition feels better, the subject is larger and is the focus of the shot), the image on the right accommodates all of the cover information.

Composing the photo in such a way that the business and pattern information can be clearly read makes the cover layout feel intentional and professional. A well-planned photo also allows the designer to utilize a layout template, which contributes to brand recognition and efficient layout work. Spending more time up front before even getting out your camera will save you so much time in the end, give it a try!

+Kristy

Project: Quilt Cadets: Braveheart Backpack
Designers: Latifah Saafir + Little Pincushion Studio
Photography: Page + Pixel

PROMPT: Curve

Creativity can be sparked by boundaries - thinking INSIDE a box - because it forces you to see and use what is available. Kristy and I are big believers in this method of jumpstarting our creative minds.

That’s why we’ve launched a new creative exercise called PROMPT.
Every 2 weeks, we will choose a word or phrase and use it to inspire art - whether it’s photographs, paintings, quilts, dance, poetry…anything used to create. This is a practice in process - it isn’t about perfection, but rather, about inspiration. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US in this exercise!

CURRENT PROMPT: CURVE
Below, I’m sharing a few of my most favorite contributions to this project from those who chose to join us so far for this round. We LOVE seeing your work! If you’d like to share something, please post your work with the hashtag #ppprompt on Instagram or Facebook.

We will announce the next PROMPT next Thursday, April 30th - so follow us to if you’d like to make art with us!

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Artist: NISSA BREHMER
Title: CURVES

Artist: NANCY PURVIS
Title: CURVE

Artist: TEAGEN ZACHARIAS
Title: CURVE

Artist: CARLA KLINKER COPE
Title: CURVES

Artist: DIANE PEDERSEN
Title: SIP CURVE

Artist: VERA TOTOS
Title: CURVES

Artist: DAVID BREHMER
Title: PANDEMIC HIGHWAY

Artist: Cyndy Rymer
Title: Curve

Artist: Jeannine Chappell
Title: Curve

SENDING LOVE // 6ft Hug

Friends, how are you? How have you been coping with this new time and place we are in? 

Some of you may have found the motivation to clean out closets and get to those pesky to-do lists. Others might find themselves on the sofa cuddled up with a quilt and a good movie. 

Me? I found myself reverting back to making art with my hands. Overwhelmed with the Zoom calls and social media, I’m craving time with paper and ink. I also find that it feels good to reach out to others with this paper and ink. Making prints has made me feel really good this week and sending them out to people has made me feel even better.

Now, more than ever, is the time to share the love. So with that thought in mind, I created a graphic derived from my linocut print that you can use to print your own cards with. You can even send a digital card if you don’t have the paper and envelope! Right now we are all just doing the best we can.

It’s my gift to you—a hug from 6ft away.

+ Kristy