I had been looking for just the one straight forward tutorial that offered this info but only seemed to find bits and pieces of what I was looking for in other tutorials. So after figuring it out, I thought I'd share it although this is a basic way, I'm sure there's many other ways to do so or perhaps maybe all this has already been shared. Nonetheless, I'd still like to post it, for my future reference as well.  

Creating the pattern

1. So I start with a square art board (400px by 400 px – doesn’t have to be 400px, as long as it’s a square) and have drawn 2 shapes with the pen tool, which will comprise of my pattern. You can place your artwork/pattern anyway you like on the square but anything that overlaps one side will need to be moved and copied to the opposite side.

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2. To do so select your shape/artwork (one at a time), go to object – transform – move.

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3. Now if your artwork overlaps the left side of your art board you enter ‘0’ for ‘vertical’ and ‘400’ for horizontal. Select preview and you will see the artwork automatically move 400px to the right side.

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  4. Click ‘copy’ and it will duplicate and move it for you. If your artwork is originally placed overlapping the right side just enter the negative value of px (if it were in my case, it would be  ‘- 400 px’) and it will automatically move to the left side. You do the same thing for shapes/artwork overlapping the top and bottom edges of your art board except, you need to enter ‘0’ for ‘horizontal’.

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5. So now I have the pattern that I would like to see repeated. Before I drag it into the swatch palette I will need to crop out the overlapping edges.

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6.  Otherwise, if I were to turn it into a swatch as it is now and used it as a fill it would look like the above (although it looks decent enough, it’s not what I want).
 

Cropping

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7. In the same layer, create a square of the same size as your art board with no fill and no stroke, then place it exactly over your art board. You can use the transform palette to do this.

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8. Select everything and expand.

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9. Whilst everything is still selected, go to the pathfinder palette and select ‘crop’.

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10. Now you can drag everything into the swatch palette to turn it into a swatch.

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11. And voila, you have a seamless repeat pattern when using your swatch as a fill.

I never thought I'd be interested in learning more about CS3 programs but, ever since I started using adobe illustrator to screen print, I've been hooked! Also some interesting opportunities have arisen that require learning more about digital illustration, so I've just been trying to find some easy-to-follow tutorials. BittBox is a pretty resourceful site (i love you freebie makers!! keep on freebie making! hehe), which has taught me an easier way to make seamless repeat patterns.
Here's one of my tests:  

 

It's been awhile since I've been op-shopping for materials so thought I'd visit the local St Vinnies yesterday. I scored some pillow cases and a bed sheet with prints that others may find tacky or dull but, I can really see something special in these and can't wait to get sewing.

Although, looks like I will have to wait as I've been asked to re-create a piece of clothing (without taking it apart) for me mum. Should be challenging, I haven't really done anything like that before, but I think I can do it.

On another note, I've been listening to Bridezilla, they're a group of youngeds from NSW whom I had heard of a while back, but it's only now that I'm really soaking in their music.  

Finished this dress. The photo wasn't clear to begin with so I played around with the photo and think will probably experiment with this photo manip idea a little more later. I had screen printed some detail on the bottom of that fabric, one of my first screen printing semi-successes. And tomorrow will be printing some t-shirts ...  

I have this idea of presenting some of the clothes i've sewn by combining my drawings with photos we've taken, but so far I just haven't found the right balance. I guess I'll figure something out eventually. Meanwhile, thought I'd contribute some of the drawings to the group.  Tis been awhile..

my first thought when i woke yesty morning was that i slept in till the afternoon. as i got out of bed i realised what a peachy atmosphere, took one photo within the house then got on with the daily routine without leaving the house.

  this guy and many others took much better photos than i...

mucking around

Awhile ago I had bought some pastel coloured fabric markers at Lincraft for around $30 (pretty pricy I know, it was a giddy, impulsive purchase). As excited as I was to use them I was quickly disappointed. Upon first using them I noticed that as I continued to draw the ink started to fade out like a worn out pen. And I hadn't even covered more than a quarter of a meter. So, if you're considering doing the same thing (covering a good length of fabric with your own designs via fabric markers), avoid the ones from Lincraft. Too bad, I really liked the pastel colours of these fabric markers but, lets face it, they're really more for letting your lil kids go crazy with vandalising their own clothes (and knowing the fun will last as long as their attention spans). 

Nonetheless, I was able to churn some designs onto 1 piece of fabric:

 and then turn some of it into a bag:

Which, by the way was inspired by the lovely, free purse pattern offered by Rae at her blog here.
Although I had altered mine a little by lengthening the strap and the length of the purse just because I'm more of a shoulder bag person. Anyhow, it was really easy to make (made in one night) considering that I didn't add anything fancy like pockets..nor interface (that one, out of laziness). But next time, interface would be a must, just so that it looks less crinkly.  

On another note, my sister is finallly on her uni break so maybe I'll finally be able to post up the clothes I've made (she promised she'd model them for me).