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Mollie Johanson

The Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Our Top 25 Free Embroidery Designs

Written by
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional crafter with over 10 years experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small.”
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Mollie Johanson
Updated 05/04/20

If you're looking for free hand embroidery patterns, the search is over! We've gathered our top 25 free designs so you can stitch something for any occasion, any time of the year. 

Nearly all these patterns require only the basic ​15 stitches that every embroiderer should know, but we also have a few designs that will let you stretch your skills. 

Time to get stitching!

  • 01 of 25

    Pretty Posy Welcome Embroidery Pattern

    Posy & Ribbon Welcome Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Use this Pretty Posy Welcome design to create a welcome sign for your home! You can work the entire pattern with a handful of basic stitches, and the result is beautiful. Try framing your finished welcome embroidery in an embellished hoop and displaying it on a small easel, or give it as a housewarming gift!

  • 02 of 25

    Fun Fruit Border Pattern

    Fruit Border Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Add some fruity fun to your kitchen towels with our Fruit Border embroidery pattern. The fruits and miniature flowers are tiny, which makes them quick to stitch. Plus, they're in color order, so your embroidered fruit salad forms a rainbow!

  • 03 of 25

    Vegetable Garden Embroidery Sampler

    Embroider a Vegetable Garden While Practicing Stitches
    Mollie Johanson

    Want to practice new embroidery stitches? Our Vegetable Garden Sampler pattern uses 11 different stitches, some of which are a little more advanced. And although this design is helpful for learning, it's also a great embroidery to make for your favorite gardener or veggie-loving friend. 

  • 04 of 25

    Home Sweet Home Pattern and Wall-Hanging Project

    Home Sweet Home Handkerchief Wall Hanging
    Mollie Johanson

    Adorn your wall with an adorable embroidered handkerchief featuring our Home Sweet Home pattern. If you'd rather skip the wall-hanging, the simple design with a classic sentiment is also perfect for any of your home-related embroidery projects!

    Continue to 5 of 25 below.
  • 05 of 25

    Always Bee Mine Valentine Pattern

    Always Bee Mine Hand Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Whether you want to celebrate Valentine's Day or you simply love bees, this Always Bee Mine pattern is super sweet. It's surrounded by a scalloped hexagon honeycomb border, along with some simple running stitch. You can also leave off the words to make this a honeybee pattern without a Valentine feeling.

  • 06 of 25

    Stem Stitch Butterfly Embroidery Design

    Butterfly in Stem Stitch Embroidered Sample
    Cheryl Fall

    If you're working in stem stitch or if you want to get better at this classic stitch, the Stem Stitch Butterfly pattern is perfect for you. It's also perfect for spring and would make a beautiful addition to a child's t-shirt or a bag. You only need three stitches for this design: French knots and detached chain for a few details and stem stitch for everything else—including the fill stitching!

  • 07 of 25

    Ice Cream Cone Mandala Pattern

    Stitching the Ice Cream Mandala
    Mollie Johanson

    What's better than one embroidered ice cream cone? Six embroidered ice cream cones in a rainbow of flavors! Our Ice Cream Cone Mandala design gives you the opportunity to relax as you stitch in a repeat while deciding if you want all the ice cream to be the same color or different. 

  • 08 of 25

    Seasonal Word Art Pattern Collection

    Summer Beach Embroidery pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Welcome summer, along with autumn, winter, and spring, with these collections of Seasonal Word Art embroidery patterns. Each design features tiny elements from the season they celebrate. Make the whole collection and display them through the year!

    Continue to 9 of 25 below.
  • 09 of 25

    Romantic Word Patterns and Ring Pillow Project

    DIY Embroidered Ring Pillow
    Mollie Johanson

    Express your love with one of three Romantic Word patterns. Choose from "Always," "Cherish," and "Forever," then stitch them on the accompanying wedding ring pillow. Or, use these designs to add something special to a cuff or inside a collar for a reminder of love.

  • 10 of 25

    Bitty Baby Border Embroidery Pattern

    Baby Border Hand Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Celebrate the arrival of a new baby by stitching this delightful Bitty Baby Border pattern. The center has room for adding the details of baby's birth, and the border contains miniature motifs, including a rattle, a carriage, a bottle, and more.

  • 11 of 25

    Redwork Chicken Weathervane Embroidery Pattern

    Redwork Chicken Weathervane Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Bring a bit of the French countryside to your stitching with our Chicken Weathervane pattern. This classic motif is perfect for redwork embroidery and looks beautiful on a kitchen towel. It's also a great pattern for beginners!

  • 12 of 25

    Summertime Border and Corner Designs

    Summer Border and Corner Embroidery Patterns
    Mollie Johanson

    Add a fun embroidered edge motif with a summer theme using this group of Summertime Border and Corner designs. The star, frozen treat, and ocean creatures lines can repeat, or you might use just a corner pattern to embellish your picnic tablecloth.

    Continue to 13 of 25 below.
  • 13 of 25

    Garden Bouquet Pattern for Ribbon Embroidery

    Ribbon Embroidery Bouquet
    Mollie Johanson

    If you've never tried ribbon embroidery before, this Garden Bouquet pattern is a wonderful place to start. Most of the stitches are just like regular embroidery, but the use of ribbon creates a spectacular result!

  • 14 of 25

    Classic Sashiko Patterns

    Sashiko Patterns
    Mollie Johanson

    Create gorgeous geometric designs with the traditional Japanese embroidery style of sashiko! Our set of 8 Classic Sashiko patterns is a great place to start. Once you master the sashiko variation of running stitch, you can also continue on to use the second set of sashiko designs.

  • 15 of 25

    Sashiko Single Motifs and Frame

    Sashiko Sachet
    Mollie Johanson

    Not all sashiko embroidery forms overall patterns; sometimes sashiko takes the form of individual motifs. Which is perfect for when you want to make something small! This group of Simple Single Sashiko patterns with classic Japanese style comes with a border to frame your designs too.

  • 16 of 25

    Trio of Teacup Embroidery Motifs

    Teacup Embroidery Patterns
    Mollie Johanson

    If embroidery is your cup of tea, then this Trio of Teacup patterns is perfect for you. Inspired by vintage teacups, our patterns look great stitched as a collection or worked on their own. Use them to make special linens for your next tea party!

    Continue to 17 of 25 below.
  • 17 of 25

    Mushroom Mosaic Pattern

    Mushroom Mosaic Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    This Mushroom Mosaic pattern takes you to the forest floor for your stitching. Fill your hoop with a variety of mushroom styles or choose a few individual motifs to use from the pattern. Embroidering fungi can be fun!

  • 18 of 25

    Mini Patch-Making Embroidery Motifs

    Mini Embroidery Motifs for Patches
    Mollie Johanson

    We designed this set of 12 motifs for making DIY patches, but they work for all kinds of small embroidery projects. The Mini Embroidery patterns feature fun designs that kids and grown-ups will enjoy. 

  • 19 of 25

    Floral Embroidery Design and Pencil Case Project

    DIY Embroidered Floral Pencil Case
    Mollie Johanson

    Pretty floral embroidery is always in style. These small Floral Cluster patterns are part of our pencil case project, but you can stitch them anywhere you want a few flowers. From pins to pockets to tiny hoops, this flora will brighten your day!

  • 20 of 25

    Happy Dancing Crayons Pattern

    Happy Crayons Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    When you open a new box of coloring supplies, do you do a little happy dance? Because these smiling crayons do! Stitch this Happy Dancing Crayons pattern on a school bag or make a gift for your art teacher. And be sure to use your favorite colors!

    Continue to 21 of 25 below.
  • 21 of 25

    Give Thanks Embroidery Pattern

    Free Thanksgiving Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Although "give thanks" is an idea and suggestion most commonly expressed around Thanksgiving, it's a good reminder for any day of the year. Stitch this Give Thanks pattern along with the floral spray and display it year-round. You can also try working the flowers with a combination of applique and embroidery!

  • 22 of 25

    Gather and Give Thanks Autumn Design

    Gather and Give Thanks Embroidery
    Mollie Johanson

    Make an autumn statement with our Gather and Give Thanks embroidery pattern featuring a bushel basket of bounty. The design is simple to work, while still creating a piece that you'll treasure for years to come.

  • 23 of 25

    Sweet Gingerbread Embroidery Motifs

    Sweet Gingerbread Cookies Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Gingerbread is a classic sweet treat at Christmas, but these stitched cookies are fun for other times of the year too. For example, you can embroider the Sweet Gingerbread patterns onto felt and use them for a felt board story time and tell the tale of the gingerbread man!

  • 24 of 25

    Winter Snowflake Patterns

    Snowflakes Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Stitch a mini blizzard with this set of Winter Snowflake embroidery patterns! The designs have a few details to make them special, but they're still easy to stitch. You can even customize the patterns or make them sparkle with metallic threads.

    Continue to 25 of 25 below.
  • 25 of 25

    Cheers to You Celebration Design

    Cheers to You Celebration Embroidery Pattern
    Mollie Johanson

    Celebrate a new year, a new you, or any special occasion with our Cheers to You pattern. The champagne bottle and glasses also work as separate patterns so you can work this design up however you like. Cheers!