Does my pattern have to be in a square? Yes, or a rectangle like a tile. Block off a square and design in that
How many patterns must I do? One patter, colored three different ways
Do I have to use all my swatches from my palettes? No
Can I use tints and shades not in my palettes? Yes
Can my design be abstract? It should be basically abstract, or just a little bit representational, like a floral. Think in terms of patterns for wallpaper or wrapping paper etc. No complicated scenes.
Do I need to use Illustrator? Yes
Should I outline my shapes in my design? Up to you, but generally looks better if you don’t