Free hand embroidery patterns to print, stitches and guides

Patterns to start with

Beginner 3 colors

Mini pumpkin

Easy 3 colors

Fancy butterfly

Easy 5 colors

Bee in honeycomb hexagon

Easy 1 color

Scrolled heart

Easy 3 colors

Six hearts snowflake

Easy 5 colors

Topiary tree in a pot

Easy 5 colors

Starfish and five shells

Easy 6 colors

Love is love

See all 1,420 patterns

Tools

Subjects

7 patterns

Christian and religious

8 patterns

Birds

8 patterns

Trees

27 patterns

Bugs and insects

53 patterns

Animals

20 patterns

Roses

7 patterns

Landscapes

8 patterns

Bees

11 patterns

Butterflies

24 patterns

Sweets and baking

3 patterns

Tea

10 patterns

Sea life

7 patterns

Christmas trees

13 patterns

Sewing

33 patterns

Snowflakes

11 patterns

Sunflowers

6 patterns

Santa

25 patterns

Leaves

5 patterns

Cacti

87 patterns

Love

12 patterns

Moon

3 patterns

Books

21 patterns

Plants

11 patterns

Holly

9 patterns

Gingerbread

31 patterns

Food

4 patterns

Dragonflies

57 patterns

Celestial

5 patterns

Mushrooms and toadstools

4 patterns

Poppies

24 patterns

Gardens and gardening

42 patterns

Daisies

6 patterns

Mistletoe

5 patterns

Hot-air balloons

3 patterns

Cookies

11 patterns

Tulips

3 patterns

Pine trees

4 patterns

Moon and stars

31 patterns

Fruit

5 patterns

Houseplants

4 patterns

Cupcakes

6 patterns

Mittens

9 patterns

Beach

3 patterns

Dogs

7 patterns

Faces

4 patterns

Farm

3 patterns

Farm animals

5 patterns

Games

39 patterns

Kitchen

18 patterns

Nautical

5 patterns

Pets

10 patterns

Sports

16 patterns

Sun

3 patterns

Woodland

5 patterns

Shamrocks

5 patterns

Paw prints

12 patterns

Pumpkins

4 patterns

Christmas bells

5 patterns

Easter eggs

6 patterns

Candy canes

9 patterns

Travel

8 patterns

Music

7 patterns

Nurses

8 patterns

Houses

6 patterns

Boats

3 patterns

Trucks

7 patterns

Vehicles

3 patterns

Western style

10 patterns

School

7 patterns

Space

3 patterns

Coffee

3 patterns

Turtles

7 patterns

Feathers

22 patterns

Constellations

12 patterns

Zodiac

3 patterns

Seashells

8 patterns

Apples

13 patterns

Toys

9 patterns

Cherry blossom

7 patterns

Crowns and tiaras

3 patterns

Maps

5 patterns

Games and dice

3 patterns

Rockets

7 patterns

Strawberries

5 patterns

Lemons and citrus

4 patterns

Cottages

10 patterns

Keys

28 patterns

Bows and ribbons

7 patterns

Candy

9 patterns

Cakes

6 patterns

Lotus

4 patterns

Harvest

41 patterns

Acorns

7 patterns

Poinsettias

3 patterns

Paris

3 patterns

Succulents

14 patterns

Funny

22 patterns

Home sayings

4 patterns

Bathroom

7 patterns

Friendship

99 patterns

Christmas sayings

8 patterns

Welcome signs

52 patterns

Inspirational

4 patterns

Teachers

58 patterns

Love sayings

17 patterns

Baking

13 patterns

Give thanks

4 patterns

Laundry room

6 patterns

Fleur-de-lis

15 patterns

Forget-me-nots

8 patterns

Pansies

6 patterns

Anemones

7 patterns

Primroses

6 patterns

Peonies

7 patterns

Asters

5 patterns

Cosmos flowers

5 patterns

Black-eyed Susans

6 patterns

Zinnias

7 patterns

Dahlias

5 patterns

Chrysanthemums

10 patterns

Clouds

6 patterns

Weather

6 patterns

Balloons

5 patterns

Christmas treats

4 patterns

Baseball

5 patterns

Daffodils

6 patterns

Brides

7 patterns

Tiles

15 patterns

Mandalas

3 patterns

Hydrangeas

3 patterns

Pies

4 patterns

Cherries

3 patterns

Playing cards

3 patterns

Christmas lights

8 patterns

Christmas baubles

4 patterns

Cooking

4 patterns

Presents

3 patterns

Candles

10 patterns

Jobs and professions

4 patterns

Arrows

4 patterns

Wheat

9 patterns

Christmas bows

12 patterns

Birth month flowers

3 patterns

Baby clothes

6 patterns

Sunrises and sunsets

14 patterns

Days of the week

Shown at the top of the page: Flowers, Hearts, Sayings and quotes, Wreaths, Stars, Family.

Occasions

34 patterns

Valentine's Day

22 patterns

Thanksgiving

49 patterns

Baby

7 patterns

Party

6 patterns

Patriotic

34 patterns

Weddings

15 patterns

Wedding

5 patterns

St Patrick's Day

13 patterns

Nursery

31 patterns

Birthday

6 patterns

Anniversary

14 patterns

Mother's Day

5 patterns

Fourth of July

10 patterns

Sisters

22 patterns

Grandparents

6 patterns

Thank you

13 patterns

Fathers

4 patterns

Engagement

Seasons

201 patterns

Christmas

63 patterns

Autumn

61 patterns

Winter

43 patterns

Spring

9 patterns

Easter

19 patterns

Halloween

42 patterns

Summer

Styles

9 patterns

Celtic

27 patterns

Quilt blocks

80 patterns

Geometric

42 patterns

One colour and monochrome

4 patterns

Fantasy creatures

7 patterns

Celtic knots

19 patterns

Folk art

11 patterns

Botanical

26 patterns

Redwork and bluework

9 patterns

Blackwork

5 patterns

Greek key

12 patterns

Scallops

5 patterns

Irish

13 patterns

Rainbows

10 patterns

Medieval

13 patterns

Boho

14 patterns

Art Deco

7 patterns

Jacobean

Projects

Learn hand embroidery, step by step

How to start
How to start hand embroidery, in order.
Get the pattern onto your fabric
Ways to get a hand embroidery pattern onto fabric, from window tracing and marking pens to carbon paper, stick-and-stitch, tissue paper and prick and pounce.
Learn ten basic stitches
Ten basic hand embroidery stitches and how to work each one, with a chart of which stitch to use for outlines, lettering, filling, flowers and leaves.
Choose how many strands
How many strands of floss to use for outlines, lettering, satin stitch and knots, how to separate six-strand floss cleanly, and which needle fits.
Finish the back of the hoop
How to finish the back of an embroidery hoop for display: gather it with a running stitch, add a felt backing or glue it, hang it, or mount it in a frame.

Basic stitches

Running stitch

Used for dashed outlines.

Beginner

Back stitch

Used for outlines; lettering.

Beginner

Split stitch

Used for fine outlines; lettering and delicate curves.

Beginner

Stem stitch

Used for flower stems and vines; curved outlines.

Beginner

Satin stitch

Used for petals and leaves; small solid shapes.

Easy

French knot

Used for flower centers; single accent dots.

Easy

Chain stitch

Used for outlines; stems and curved lines.

Beginner

Lazy daisy stitch

Used for flower petals; small leaves.

Beginner

Blanket stitch

Used for finishing the edges of felt and blankets.

Beginner

Long and short stitch

Used for filling shapes too large for satin stitch.

Intermediate

All 45 hand embroidery stitches

Guides

Start here

On clothes

Care and finishing

Reference

Compared with other crafts

Needlepoint vs embroidery

All 14 hand embroidery guides

More

How many strands of floss should I use?

Two or three of the six strands is the usual place to start. One strand gives a very fine line for delicate detail. Two give a fine line that is still easy to see. Three give a bold line that can still hold detail. Four to six give a heavy, textured line. If your pattern gives a strand count, follow it.