Behind the Scenes with Linn Warme: Surface Pattern Design & Fabric Inspiration

Behind the Scenes with Linn Warme: Surface Pattern Design & Fabric Inspiration

I’m excited to share a Q&A with surface pattern designer Linn Warme! This might be the first interview-style post on the blog, so I’d love to hear your thoughts and any other potential guests or questions you’d like to see featured in the future.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

I’m Linn Warme an illustrator a pattern designer from Sweden. After working as a print designer for fashion brands I went freelance a handful of years ago, and have since worked with textiles, packaging, editorial illustrations and much more. I’m a curious person that loves learning new things, I’m always creating and being creative is like breathing for me, it’s a must! I’m also a mother of two lovely kids.

 

What part of Sweden do you reside in? No need for a specific city, but maybe which region of the country.

I'm in a town about an hour north of Stockholm, our capital. Sweden is a long and narrow country, and I'm roughly in the middle. North enough to always have snow in winter, but south enough to get warmish summers.

Can you expand a bit on your work as a print designer for fashion brands?

I was working in-house at the design department at Lindex, where my main responsibility was print development. I made patterns for women's swimwear, underwear, nightwear and sportswear. After that I worked at Gudrun Sjödén, where I made prints for women's clothing and some home goods.

Have you noticed any differences between that world and the quilting cotton industry?

It's not that big of a difference between designing fabrics for clothing or quilts. The most important factor, no matter the end product, is knowing how it's going to be produced, since that determines the design specifications.

What’s your history when it comes to art?

Both my parents are artists, so art and craft were always part of my upbringing. From an early age I was obsessed with drawing, and that passion has never faded. After graduating, I studied at an art school in my hometown for several years, where I developed my technical drawing skills, something I’m still grateful for today. After that, I went on a long journey into textile art, and later textile design.

What type of art do your parents create? Did you find yourself drawn to similar mediums, or did you naturally take a different path?

My mother works in fine arts, specifically graphic arts, where she prints a mix of etchings, aquatints, photopolymer gravures and screen prints. In a way, the printmaking she does is related to textile printing. Both use different printed layers to create the finished imagery.
But I never had any desire to follow the same path as my mother. I only knew I wanted to work in a creative field, though I was unsure what that would look like. I grew up around artists, and the role of a designer never crossed my mind. So I went through phases of oil painting and ceramics before I came across textile art and fell in love with the colors and tactility of textiles and embroidery. I applied and was accepted into a textile arts program, we were only five students accepted in my year. During my studies we covered all sorts of textile techniques, and that's where I learned how to make patterns and how to print them.

With having kids yourself, have you noticed any blossoming creative interests or talents in them?

Yes, in both of them! Though whether that's anything more than the natural creativity kids possess, I don't know yet. My daughter Mira, almost four, loves painting and drawing and wishes to do it all the time. My son Vide, six, likes drawing too, but he's more into building things and making "inventions."


How did you land in surface pattern/fabric design?

During my time studying textile art, I discovered my love for patterns. It let me combine my passions for illustration and textiles, and I also enjoyed the technical side, building a repeat that feels truly seamless.

Where did you attend school for textile art?

For my bachelor's in Textile Art I went to HDK-Valand, Academy of Art and Design at the University of Gothenburg. For my master's in Textile Design I studied at the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås.

What inspires you?

Here in Sweden, the seasons completely transform the landscape. We have lush, green summers, followed by autumn when everything shifts into yellows, oranges, and browns. Winter is long and dark, but after the cold we’re rewarded with nature coming back to life, slowly waking from its slumber as flowers bud and the green returns.

You are a new designer to Moda in 2025 - I’d love to hear how that came about?

I’m still new to the world of quilting, even though it’s always been part of my family. A few years ago I discovered Moda, and I instantly fell in love with their fabrics and the designers they’ve worked with over the years. I decided to reach out, and we’ve had a great connection from the start.

Jamie, Megan, Rachel, and everyone at Moda Fabrics have been wonderful to work with. It’s a real treat partnering with a brand that takes such pride in what they do and genuinely cares about their products.

I’d love to hear a bit more about your family’s history with quilting. Do you recall relatives quilting, or anyone who still quilts today?

My sister is the only one who quilts a little when she has the time, and my grandmother has done some quilting too. But it's not as big here as I believe it is in the States.

 

Is there a particular quilt that comes to mind when you think about quilting growing up?

Unfortunately not. But last year my sister made a quilted blanket using my fabrics and gave it to my daughter to play with her dolls. It was such a lovely gift and really special to see my designs in a quilt.

I’d love to hear what your process looks like from inspiration to physical fabric in hand?

I usually start by drawing by hand in my sketchbook. It’s easier for me to be creative on paper—you can’t undo your lines, and everything flows more naturally. After that, I take my sketches into my iPad or computer and redraw them there, where I also explore different colorways. For me, a good pattern needs a strong repeat, so I spend a lot of time refining that until everything feels just right.

Do you take into account that your fabric designs will be cut up when determining the scale of your patterns?

Yes! I try to think about the scale so it's not too large, and about the direction of the pattern so it works from any angle.


Do you have any words of wisdom for artists looking to get into surface pattern design?

Always try to improve your technical and drawing skills. Try creating things with intent, how would you want your design to be used?

What are your favorite three things to illustrate?

I love my florals, so I’m going with Peony and Dahlias. And birds of all kinds are also a treat to illustrate!

 


I hope you’ll take a minute to explore Linn’s upcoming work and see what she’s creating—don’t forget to follow her on social media! Her illustrations are truly inspiring, and I love how her designs are drawing me toward more neutral colors in my own creative projects.

 

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