What is a

pattern?
Teachnet 2005

Nicola Gardiner 2005

What is a pattern?
A pattern relies upon three
characteristics:
A single motif
Repetition of the motif
A system of organisation

Nicola Gardiner 2005

Four main pattern

techniques
There are four basic ways that you can
repeat a motif to create a pattern
Repeats, half drop repeats, reflection and
rotation

Mathematicians call these repetitions

rigid motions because the
movements do not lead to any change
of size or shape of the original motif.

Nicola Gardiner 2005

Repeats
This is rigid
motion where
the motif is
simply
repeated over
and over along
horizontal and
vertical lines
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Half drop repeats

This is a rigid
motion where
every other
line of motifs is
staggered.

Nicola Gardiner 2005

Reflection
Reflection is
rigid motion
where the
original motif is
reflected across
a line or axis.
This creates a
symmetrical
pattern
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Rotation
Rotation is
rigid motion
where the
original design
is rotated
around a
single point
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Rotation through different

angles
90 degree
180 degree
rotation

rotation

120 degree
rotation Nicola Gardiner 2005

60 degree
rotation

Reflections and rotations

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Other combinations

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How many patterns can you

make starting with a simple
motif?

Nicola Gardiner 2005