It is advisable to space out the required surface in some way before commencing to draw out a pattern; for carrying out [fig. 14] it would be well to pencil out the surface as in [fig. 15]; a connection between these two will be perceived at a glance. This spacing-out of the required surface in one way or another is of great assistance, and may even prove suggestive in the planning of the design. It helps the regularity of the work, and order is essential in design as in most other things in life.
Another very usual expedient is that of introducing a main central form, with others branching out on either side and symmetrically balancing each other. An example of this is given in [fig. 16]. The symmetry may be much more free than this; a tree is symmetrical taken as a whole, but the two sides do not exactly repeat each other.
A plan very commonly employed is that of radiating main lines all diverging from one central point. [Fig. 17] shows a design following this principle; there is infinite variety in the ways in which this may be carried out.
