Simple repeating textile or surface design patterns like stripes and polka dots are quick and easy to make in Adobe Illustrator, but textures like heathers, melange and space dyes can be more challenging.

In this step by step Illustrator video tutorial, we’ll cover:

• How to convert a scan or image to vector using Image Trace (or Live Trace in CS5 or earlier) (0:28)
• Controlling the Image Trace settings to reduce the number of colors (2:09)
• When to choose Abutting paths or Overlapping paths (2:57)
• How to turn the Image Trace results into a seamless repeating pattern (4:57)
• Edit the edges of the pattern tile to smooth out the edges of the pattern tile (5:42)
• How to edit the repeat in pattern editing mode (7:52)