Carrots: A Block-Printed Pattern with a Hidden Message

Photo credit: Kyly B Clark

Carrots was the first in a series of three carrot-inspired patterns, followed by Heirloom Carrots and Carrot Patch. It was also my first experiment with dip-dyed fabric, which became an important part of the series’ look and feel.

I’ve always loved the unexpected colors of carrots. Long before the familiar orange carrot became the standard, carrots were grown in shades of purple, white, yellow, and red. That colorful history became part of my inspiration for this pattern.

But the real secret is hidden in the details.

The tiny horizontal markings on a carrot, lateral roots and rootlet scars, became the perfect visual language for Morse code. I used those natural-looking lines to hide a phrase within the block-printed design.

The goal was for the message to be almost invisible. At first glance, Carrots is simply a playful botanical pattern. Look a little closer, though, and there’s something waiting to be decoded.

Decoded message: “Can you dig it?”

See the image below to discover how each word is hidden within the carrot pattern.

Carrots is one of twenty prints featured in my book, Not Just a Pretty Picture: The Art, Process, and Language Behind the Prints, from the studio of Kristen Dettoni.