The year was 1991 and The Gap had just opened a store at the mall and at their grand opening, they featured the ironic combination of workman’s chambray and preppy plaid. It was a pretty combo and I totally loved it. As a matter of fact, one of my very first sartorial purchases included a chambray shirt and pair of red plaid shorts from The Gap. I’ve been mad about plaid (and chambray) ever since.
The other day, I created six plaid patterns for my Colour Lover post. And yet, even after the post was published, I couldn’t stop tinkering with the web application I used to create these patterns. Tartan Maker is a wonderful (and addicting) resource, brought to us by the same folks who created Stripe Generator. With Tartan Maker, you can create any plaid from 2 to 10 color bands of varying widths and you’re not restricted to creating just plaid — you can make gingham and you can make “graph paper”, too. The design possibilities are endless.
I made 45 patterns last night and you’re welcome to download them. I also included some “paper scrap” samples for you to play around with. :)
If you want to make plaid patterns from scratch using Adobe Photoshop, check out these fun tutorials:
| F R E E Mad About Plaid 45 paper scraps JPG (2.9 MB) D O W N L O A D |
{ 44 comments }
very pretty! such a cool website to play around on too :)
oh wow! you are awesome Katrina! Thank you! xx
how lovely! i really like the colors in the first set; so bright & cheerful. ‘tartan’ reminds me of when i was Carnegie Mellon University & I realized that their mascot is…well…plaid. :)
Love ‘em all. YOu rocK!
Awesome! I love these.
♥ sécia
http://www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
Today, I printed labels with patterns on them, and these are going to be the next thing I print onto little stickers. Thank you so much!!!! (I’m becoming your biggest fan!)
these are amazing! as always, thank you! <3
Love then all!
Very cute! I see they also make something called “Tab Generator,” which I might have to play around with a bit. I love these sorts of quick tricks for designing, and Mollie’s link to the patterned labels is very cool, too.
wow…the possibilities are endless! Thank you~~
Wow!! This is stunning! Thank you so much!!
thanks so much :)
http://www.sosweetdesigns.net/
Thanks so much for the free download! It’s people like you who make the blogging world a better place. (:
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome site! :D
OH! Katrina my heart is so happy, love the TARTAN!!!!!
Thank you thanks so much.
pretty!!!!! Thanks for sharing these :)
seriously, you are so awesome! i’ve been trying to think up a cute background for my blog layout, and these lovely plaids are JUST what i needed. pugly pixel saves the day again!
Wow!! Thank you for being so generous with your time and doing this for us. I don’t imagine needing any other combination after this…they are all perfect!
love love love. =) Your colorcombo on all those patterns are FANTASTIC. I love them all. Thank you. =)
Your work is lovely! As always!
Lots of love from Norway
So gorgeous! I will definitely go check this out!
seriously! you are making my life too easy! ;) altho, i will most likely still play with the tartan maker myself… i love your plaids, the color combos and patterns are absolument parfait!
i think i’d like to do a little Scottish jig for you in appreciation for these – thanks Katrina! so happy your tinkering continued, the results are pure dead brilliant.
So fun! Thank you so much Katrina!
They are all so pretty! I am going to have a blast with all of these beautiful combinations. Thanks so much! I remember my first chambray shirt from The Gap. I loved wearing it with my plaid Vans. Oh, the memories of early 90′s high school fashion.
Thanks so much!
You r so giving!
Hugs,
Gina
I did some patterns from color lovers too, your are very nice.
I shared your link in my FB ;)
so pretty!!! thanks so much for making these. :)
How can I not have known about your blog up until now? It’s awesome!
I’m totally mad about plaid and tartan! Gorgeous Katrina! Thank you for sharing. ♥
I really thought these are iPhone skins… but these are amazing! as always, thank you very much!!
How totally addictive! I’m mad for plaid too :) Thanks for sharing.
These patterns are fabulous, and the tartan maker is loads of time-wasting fun! Great find and thanks for the download!
These are so pretty! In fact, your whole site is. :-) I love your freebies and the premium gooodies even more. Consider me a huge fan! ♥ Thank you!
I love sites that allow you to create such candies effortlessly. ALSO – Thanks for making these, they are gorgeous.
thank you!!
You are simply the \Goddess Of All Things Digital\! How on earth do you do it???? Ugh, I wish I had that talent. As it is, I’m at least thankful that you post such yummy things for all of us to take advantage of. I’ve said it 10 times before, and I’ll say it again, YOU ROCK!
xo Deirdre
You’re so sweet and you rock! Your DIY calling card is super duper cute too <3
Thank you!
wow thanks katrina! these are fab.
You Rock!!!! Do you know if I can make them using Elements?
Thank you! :o)
Lovely site and thanks for the resource! xx
This is amazing! Thank you so much! :D