Project 3: A Cut & Sew Hat Pattern - Step 4

The hat I've designed is intended for a Mommy and a young child/infant. I designed this whole project with my niece, Kristina, and her new baby, Paisley, in mind.  So, since it's now time to create a pattern - what would be more natural than to create a paisley pattern??  

I sat down on my couch with a blank sheet of paper and did a rough sketch in crayon of the paisley pattern, using pinks and grays since I had seen that color scheme on some of the pictures that Kristina had posted to her Facebook wall. Here is the original sketch: 

I imported that image into Illustrator and worked up a paisley design that would serve as the base for the pattern.

I ended up creating two different designs. The first had a large floral motif centered in the design.  

However, I wasn't fully satisfied with this design. I felt there was something lacking in it.  So I created a second design, similar to the first but this time with the paisley florals on a diagonal instead of by row.  This one I found much more pleasing to the eye.

Now that I had the pattern I wanted, it was time to fill in those blanks :)

Project 3: A Cut & Sew Hat Pattern - Step 3

After, literally, hours of playing around with different configurations, I finally found the layout that would fit on one yard of 42"x36" fabric, including a lining for each hat, and still leave room for instructions.

Now that this step is finished, it's time to "fill in the blanks" and create the fabric pattern.