Pattern Making in Adobe Illustrator CC - A masterclass (Udemy.com)
Boost your Graphic Design skills - make seamless patterns in Illustrator - in-depth training for all experience levels
Created by: Helen Bradley
Last updated April 2023
What you will learn
- Make a range of seamless repeating patterns in Illustrator
- Work more confidently in Illustrator
- Create large block and half drop repeat patterns
- Know handy shortcut keys and techniques
- Draw shapes and use Illustrator effects
- Create designs suitable for print on demand products, and digi-scrapping
- Create spiral and faux leopard skin patterns
- Create stripe and polkadot patterns
- Create classic patterns like the Moroccan trellis
- Size and recolor any pattern with ease
- Reinforce everything you learn with practical exercises
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100
Course Description
Make Patterns in Adobe Illustrator CC - learn to use Illustrator by making useful designs
Are you ready to learn Illustrator CC? Do you want to make designs to sell online on POD sites, as scrapbook paper or vector stock? Do you want to increase your Illustrator knowledge? Do you want to expand your graphic design skills?
Great!
Welcome!
This course is for you. It's a fun and a practical way to learn Illustrator CC.
Here you'll "learn by doing" as you make a range of seamless repeating patterns. You can use these patterns to make scrapbook papers, stock vector images, backgrounds, and for your own projects. You can upload them to Spoonflower to make fabric and wallpaper, you can print them on book covers and mugs on sites like Redbubble. In short, there are literally hundreds of ways to make use of the patterns you'll make in this course and you'll be so proud when you say "I made that".
Who is your trainer?
Helen Bradley has taught thousands of students to use Illustrator and Photoshop. She doesn't fluff about and instead she is focused on helping you learn to use Illustrator in a practical and smart way. Her workflows are carefully structured for maximum success and she explains everything so you know the 'why' as well as the 'how' of any process.
Helen has a huge commitment to her students' learning - she answers all student questions and often adds extra videos to a course to help students with questions that others might also benefit from learning from.
What will you learn?
When you complete this course, you'll:
- be able to create a range of different types and styles of patterns in Illustrator CC
- have extended your knowledge of Illustrator CC tools
- have learned new tips and techniques that you can use every day
- be able to confidently create pattern filled objects for a range of design and commercial uses
- know how to prepare pattern collections for sale online and for upload to sites like Spoonflower
Do I hear you say "...but I don't know how to use Illustrator (and frankly, I'm scared of it)"?
I understand!
I've been there.
Illustrator can be really scary to use when you first start out.
… but I've created a better way to learn Illustrator. One that makes it a lot less scary and a lot more fun.
You see, you'll learn to make patterns you can sell, give away on your blog, and use yourself. So you'll be making designs that you can do something with at the same time that you are learning Illustrator. There's no waiting! There's no hours of learning before you can get started doing something. In fact you can start today. Complete the first few lessons and you'll have made your first patterns!
Do I hear you say "... but I hate the Pen tool!"?
I understand! Most people hate the pen tool. You are not alone!
… I believe that Illustrator is so much more than its (dreaded) Pen tool – so we'll use the pen tool only when we have to (which is practically never) and you'll see just how much you can achieve without it.
Do I hear you say "... but I can't draw"?
No problem! If you can use a mouse you can complete this course.
Quite simply, you don't need to be able to draw. In fact many designers can't draw and yet they make fantastic designs and great products.
If you can draw – great! If you can't draw – don't worry, you'll be able to succeed in this course even if drawing isn't a skill you have mastered.
Are you ready to extend your Illustrator skills?
If you already know the basics of using Illustrator, taking this class will elevate your skills to a new level. You'll learn to use tools and techniques in a practical situation. No laboriously making shapes just to learn what the pathfinder tool does. No! In this class you'll learn the pathfinder because you need it, you'll draw shapes intrinsic to the pattern you are making - you'll be putting your skills to practical use from the first lecture. You'll reinforce your existing knowledge as you apply it to real world designs. And if we use tools you've never used before - great! You'll learn to use them fast and easily so you understand how you can put them to work in your daily workflow.
Do I hear you say "Please don't waste my time"?
If there is one thing I hate it’s wasting time and you probably do too.
So, I don't say "um", I don't fluff about, I don't make mistakes, I know my stuff and I show you how to do things efficiently and effectively. I speed up the videos where appropriate so you don't get bored or distracted.
I also take time to explain where things might go wrong and I show you how to avoid or workaround issues so you're better informed about Illustrator's behavior.
I'm 100% focused on helping you learn.
In short, I'll get straight to the point and I’ll maximize what you learn in every class.
Will I just learn to make patterns?
Well Yes, and No!
Yes, you'll learn to make patterns – lots of wonderful seamless repeating patterns. Each pattern has been chosen for a reason, there are the basic patterns like polka dots and stripes which are foundation patterns that everyone should know how to make. You'll learn to make checks and spirals because they teach different techniques, you'll make faux leopard skin and you'll make patterns from lines and geometric shapes.
But you'll also learn to use tools like the Shape Builder, Pencil, Arc and Spiral tools and many others too.
You'll learn techniques and tips for working everyday in Illustrator CC.
You'll learn to recolor your patterns. You'll fall in love with the Recolor ArtWork tool as you use it to explore wonderful color schemes for your art.
You'll get plenty of practice using Illustrator and you'll grow in confidence with every lecture.
How will I learn?
This course is made up 100% of video content. You'll watch my screen as I show you how each pattern is made. I'll explain what I am doing and why so you can learn as you watch.
In one lecture you'll make a pattern from lots of small objects. Now because making those objects isn't an important part of the class, I'll give them to you so you can get to work straight away. That way you can focus on the pattern and not the bits that go to making it.
Join me...
I hope you will join me in this Illustrator CC class. I look forward to meeting you and I invite you to contact me if you have any questions as you work through the lectures.
cheers!
Helen
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
139 Reviews
Helen Bradley
Helen Bradley is an expatriate Australian, designer, and educator. She specializes in teaching graphic design using Adobe Illustrator, Procreate 5X, and Adobe Photoshop. She also teaches photo-editing with Lightroom and Photoshop.
Helen has taught hundreds of thousands of students world wide and she is recognized as a skilled trainer who "knows her stuff" and who is able to communicate even highly technical and complex processes so they are easy to understand.
Apart from her technical expertise, one thing students frequently comment on is her lack of 'fluff' she doesn't waste time and she gets to the point quickly.
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Reviews
By Lisa R Cummings on 3/25/2026
I have been using Illustrator for years, but I started selling some of my designs on Spoonflower recently. I bought this course in the hopes that I would learn something new. Althought most of the Illustrator techniques I was already familiar with, I did learn some new things in Illustrator, as well as pattern making techniques that is going to save a lot of time. Thank you. I just purchased the advanced course, so I'm sure I will learn even more.
By Marie Knapp on 3/3/2024
The instructor was knowledable in Illustrator and provided the course with a calming and understandable tone. I learned a lot from this course. The only reason I didn't give the other half of a star was for 2 reasons. I had asked a question and I hadn't recieved an answer back for 2 days. In the meantime I found out the answer on my own and thus deleted my question since it was no longer relevant. The other reason is I would like to have seen how to upload my own illustrations done in photoshop or another program and learned how to make those into a pattern. I did see how she did it with the illustrations she provided but what if I was doing a watercolor and wanted to then put it in illustrator. I understand the image trace tool but when I try this I end up with a mess of colors that I am not able to group correctly to then make the pattern with. Nice course overall though.
By Gian L on 11/17/2023
Helen is a good instructor, the lessons are filled with rich, detailed information yet presented in a way that is easy to digest. The use of real-world examples and practical exercises helped me grasp the theoretical aspects more concretely. Thanks Helen! *I will move to the advance patterns course :)
By Donna Turner-Witbeck on 6/11/2023
This is a great course! I'm learning the nuts and bolts of different pattern construction so that I will be able to create my own patterns within the structures of each type of pattern. As I am pretty new to Illustrator, I also appreciate learning different ways to perform certain functions. There's more than one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes. (I think I just aged myself.) Thank you!
By Alesya S. on 5/12/2023
I'm very happy I chose this course as a starting point for learning the art of pattern making. It's packed with useful information, and you learn it as you complete different simple projects with the teacher, so the skills settle very well. The explanations are very clear, and Helen's voice is somehow very calming and encouraging at the same time. Thank you, Helen!
By Good inTents on 2/17/2023
learned a lot of great skills that will apply to my new career in design. my learning style likes to do everything the instrustor is doing and follow along, so it was a little fast paced for me. lots of pausing and rewinding other than that it was very benefical and looking forward for the more advanced course!
By Nakia Young-EL on 4/6/2022
This course was absolutely perfect! I learned illustrator and was introduced to surface design in college over 8 years ago and was so rusty. This class walks you through everything so nicely and gives you the skills to get started as a beginner or someone like myself who needed a major refresher. Will be taking more of her courses
By Vipul S Sheth on 2/4/2022
All the courses by Helen Bradley have valuable contents in a systematic manner that are easy to understand. Also, there is so much information put into each of the short videos, this all will help us perfect our techniques over complex subjects, which otherwise looked difficult to achieve. Thankyou.
By Iris Cruz on 3/30/2021
I have not learn what I want yet but I am hoping I will get to the lecture I want
By Felicia Pannell on 7/16/2020
Loved this course! However - Section 8: Part 35 seems to be cut short - doesn't go on to explain how to prepare a file for Redbubble. Edit - Helen Bradley was quick to respond - turns out the wrong video was uploaded which she rectified immediately. Thank you!!











