This degree work in textile design positions itself in the textile- and surface pattern design field by investigating the interpretation of the translation from traditional to contemporary. The motive is to apply a sustainable aspect to surface pattern design by “recycling” traditional and cultural patterns into renewed contemporary expressions. The aim is to design a collection of contemporary surface patterns by exploring and interpreting traditionally common patterns, such as curbits and folklore painting. Modern printing techniques, new technology and materials have been used in the investigation. Three suggestions for a contemporary surface pattern collection have been developed. A repeated pattern that has been laser engraved and colored on acrylic plexiglass, a mirrored pattern that has been digital printed, coated, and cut to reveal the tabletop, and a large-scale placed pattern that has been transfer printed in three layers to enable for a color-mixing-effect. This project contributes to reinforce the knowledge of traditional craftsmanship and establish a new legacy that can serve as both a link to pattern history and as an archive of today. The project desires to influence how a sustainable approach to “recycling” traditional or cultural images and motifs can be used to design new surface patterns.