No matter what style or type of embroidery you prefer when enjoying this popular hobby, the internet can provide you with enough free embroidery patterns to keep you going for years to come, and this page will provide all the links you need for acquiring free embroidery patterns, for both hand and machine embroidery, along with instructions on how to use the sites to get the patterns you want.http://www.embroideryemotions.com/Amazing-Embroidery.html

This page presents several resources for free embroidery patterns, representing the following “types” of embroidery:

• Machine applique
• Machine crewel
• Cross stitch
• Tapestry
• Needlepoint
• Hardanger

You will need a reliable internet connection and a printer; for some patterns this will need to be a color printer, but links have been provided to many patterns that only require black and white, based on the symbol system they use. Ensure you have enough plain paper and ink in your printer to print out the patterns once you have found the ones you want.

These instructions will indicate the type of yarn or floss you will need and the color code for a couple of brands, ie. Anchor, DMC. Should you favor an alternative brand, your supplier will usually possess a chart that will give you their corresponding color code, ensuring that you achieve the desired finished results. If the pattern is abstract, you might want to experiment with a different color set to achieve a wholly new result. This page provides conversion charts for the popular brands of floss - Conversion Chart

Instructions will also suggest the types of fabric that are suitable for the type of embroidery you have chosen. These can range from Aida, open weave linen, cotton and needlepoint canvas.

There are several types of hand embroidery including cross stitch, tapestry, needlepoint and hardanger, and free patterns for these styles are commonly listed by the subject they represent, as are machine embroidery patterns. You can choose from themes like: birthdays, holidays, seasonal, special occasions, animals, romance, children and letters & numbers samplers.

How your finished work is going to be used will also determine the type of embroidery you elect to use. For example, When creating a small piece of work to be mounted on a greeting card it is common to use simple cross stitch, as the completed work will not need stretching or other preparation work prior to mounting. If you are decorating a piece of clothing with a picture, then applique work would be more appropriate and if your work is going to be a mounted or framed picture, you might elect to use a needlepoint tapestry or crewel embroidery pattern.

Here are several resources for different types of embroidery pattern, listed by style with a brief outline of how to use each site is included:

Machine crewel - This site allows you to download up to 3 free machine embroidery patterns per week with no purchase required. You can increase this number to 6, with a $35 purchase and up to 9 free if you spend $75 on the site. You are expected to register in order to obtain the patterns.

Machine applique - This page has a fair selection of free sample patterns to choose from, simply click on the small image to view a description and instructions on how to download. You will be asked to register before you are able to download the pattern.

Cross stitch basic - This page lists hundreds of basic cross stitch charts, all instantly available to print or save. Each pattern has instructions directly beneath it, including finished size, recommended fabric and colors used.

Cross stitch standard -All patterns on this site are instantly available, no registration required. Designs are listed by category and each chart has full instructions beneath it on the same page.

Cross stitch advanced - All patterns are instantly available and free to print or view on screen. Please read the instructions for rules on how these charts can be used. They are designed by the site owner and given away free, please respect her wishes.

Needlepoint embroidery -One new design per month is published on this site, on the page "Stitch of the Month". They are free to download for personal use and may be published on other sites, so long as credit is given to the ANG - American Needlepoint Guild

Needlepoint tapestry - The page lists lots of tapestry charts, all instantly available to view and print. Each pattern has instructions beneath it, including finished size, recommended fabric count and colors used. This is the only page available right now with free tapestry patterns.

Hardanger - A few instantly downloadable hardanger patterns are available on this page, no registration necessary.

Free patterns are not limited to the Internet, although these days this is a fairly common place to acquire just about anything. Here are some further suggestions on how you could get free embroidery patterns.

1. Often magazines dedicated to the hobbies of crafts and embroidery will have free pattern offers. Be sure to check through the classified ads too, because some companies may offer free patterns by mail, but they may expect you to by the materials from them.
2. A craft supply store, of which you are a regular customer, will probably be more than happy to supply you with any designs you want. After all, the more designs you have to implement, the more materials you will buy from them, so your gain is their gain.
3. If you are not a regular patron, many stores will offer designs to anyone purchasing a certain amount of supplies from them. Most shops have a wide variety of embroidery designs, so you would probably be able to find one or two patterns that you like.
4. Should you have friends or family who are also enjoy embroidering, you can always ask them for free designs. You might even arrange a swap for your old used patterns that they might find interesting.