Found some old sketches from my trip to Savannah that gave me an idea

I was digging through a box of old stuff last night and found my sketchbook from when I visited Savannah about 2 years ago. I'd drawn a bunch of the ironwork on those historic houses, like the balcony railings and gates. One pattern in particular had these twisted vines and tiny leaf shapes that I'd forgotten about. Looking at it now, I think it could work as a fabric print for a summer dress or maybe even a repeat pattern for a scarf. The shapes are small enough that they won't look super busy, but they've got that old-fashioned feel that's popular right now. I'm thinking of digitizing the drawing and tweaking the colors to see if it works on a cotton poplin. Has anyone else turned architecture or building details into a fashion print?

2 comments

2 Comments

seanperry8d ago

Ngl those balcony railings in Savannah are unreal, I remember staring at them for way too long when I was down there. One small thing though, cotton poplin might be a little too lightweight for a pattern that detailed unless you're going for a really crisp drape. A heavier cotton sateen or even a linen blend would hold those twisted vine shapes better and keep the old fashioned feel you're going for. Also, if you digitize it yourself, make sure you scan at a high enough resolution or those tiny leaf shapes will turn into a blurry mess when you scale it up for a repeat pattern.

seanperry8d ago

Those wrought iron vines sound perfect for fabric honestly. My attempts at drawing buildings usually end up looking like a kid's doodle of a haunted house with crooked windows. I bet your sketches will translate way better than anything I've ever tried to digitize.